Koreas in harmony as North’s orchestra plays at South’s Winter Olympics

PYONGYANG is to send a 140-strong orchestra to perform at the Winter Olympics in South Korea in a diplomatic thaw that has raised hopes of an easing of military tensions.

Officials from North and South Korea gathered at the Panmunjom “truce village” on the heavily fortified border for the second time in a week to make plans for the Games in Pyeongchang from Feb 9 to 25.

The sides agreed that the Samjiyon Band would perform in the capital, Seoul, and at Gangneung. A joint concert by the two Koreas, an event not seen for 18 years, is also on the cards.

Lee Woo-sung, South Korea’s chief negotiator, said Pyongyang has asked if the orchestra may cross the demilitarised border zone on foot.

Negotiators have also agreed a third round of talks tomorrow on the attendance at the Games of the North’s competitors. To date, only two, the figure-skating pair Ryom Tae-ok and Kim Ju-sik, have qualified to compete, although Pyongyang is expected to send spectators and performing artists.

Seoul has made no secret that it hopes North Korea’s participation could mark a turning point in relations on the peninsula after a year of sabrerattling and threats over Kim Jong-un’s nuclear and missile programmes. However, it appears to have done little to mute Pyongyang’s animosity towards the US.

Despite delaying military exercises with Seoul until after the Olympics, the US continues to bolster its presence. “Such moves are chilling the atmosphere for improved inter-korean relations,” Kim Jong-un’s party said.