US&nbsp;Vice President Mike Pence was scheduled to meet with North Korean officials, including leader Kim Jong Un&#39;s sister, while in South Korea for the Winter Olympics this month but the North Koreans cancelled at the last minute, US&nbsp;officials said on Tuesday.

&quot;North Korea dangled a meeting in hopes of the Vice President softening his message, which would have ceded the world stage for their propaganda during the Olympics,&quot; Pence&#39;s chief of staff, Nick Ayers, said in a statement.

But after Pence condemned North Korean human rights abuses and announced plans for new economic sanctions, &quot;they walked away from a meeting or perhaps they were never sincere about sitting down,&quot; Ayers said.

Pence was going to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un`s younger sister, Kim Yo Jong, and the nominal head of state, Kim Yong Nam, but the North Koreans called off the Feb. 10 meeting two hours before it was set to start, a US&nbsp;official said, confirming a story first reported by the Washington Post.

The encounter would have been the first scheduled between senior officials from the Trump administration and Pyongyang, which are in a standoff over the North`s development of nuclear weapons capable of hitting the United States.

&quot;This administration will stand in the way of Kim&rsquo;s desire to whitewash their murderous regime with nice photo ops at the Olympics. Perhaps that&rsquo;s why they walked away from a meeting or perhaps they were never sincere about sitting down,&quot; Ayers said in the statement.

Pence had criticized Pyongyang`s nuclear ambitions and announced the &quot;toughest and most aggressive&quot; sanctions against Pyongyang yet, while also moving to strengthen the U.S. alliance with Japan and South Korea.&nbsp;

Kim Jong Un, through his sister, invited South Korean President Moon Jae-in to Pyongyang&nbsp;to begin talks &ldquo;soon.&rdquo;&nbsp;

Signs of a North-South thaw have prompted speculation that it could lead to direct talks between Washington and Pyongyang after months of tension and exchanges of insults between U.S. President Donald Trump and Kim, fueling fears of war.

North Korea has refrained from carrying out any weapons tests since late November, when it shot off its largest intercontinental ballistic missile.

&quot;The President made a decision that if they wanted to talk, we would deliver our uncompromising message. If they asked for a meeting, we would meet. He also made clear that until they agreed to complete denuclearization we weren&rsquo;t going to change any of our positions or negotiate,&quot; Ayers said, echoing comments made by Pence since he left the Olympics and other U.S. officials.

The meeting was cancelled at the last minute

US Vice President Mike Pence was scheduled to meet with North Korean officials, including leader Kim Jong Un's sister, while in South Korea for the Winter Olympics this month but the North Koreans cancelled at the last minute, US officials said on Tuesday. "North Korea dangled a meeting in hopes of the Vice President softening his message, which would have ceded the world stage for their propaganda during the Olympics," Pence's chief of staff, Nick Ayers, said in a statement. But after Pence condemned North Korean human rights abuses and announced plans for new economic sanctions, "they walked away from a meeting or perhaps they were never sincere about sitting down," Ayers said. Pence was going to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un`s younger sister, Kim Yo Jong, and the nominal head of state, Kim Yong Nam, but the North Koreans called off the Feb. 10 meeting two hours before it was set to start, a US official said, confirming a story first reported by the Washington Post. The encounter would have been the first scheduled between senior officials from the Trump administration and Pyongyang, which are in a standoff over the North`s development of nuclear weapons capable of hitting the United States. "This administration will stand in the way of Kim’s desire to whitewash their murderous regime with nice photo ops at the Olympics. Perhaps that’s why they walked away from a meeting or perhaps they were never sincere about sitting down," Ayers said in the statement. Pence had criticized Pyongyang`s nuclear ambitions and announced the "toughest and most aggressive" sanctions against Pyongyang yet, while also moving to strengthen the U.S. alliance with Japan and South Korea. Kim Jong Un, through his sister, invited South Korean President Moon Jae-in to Pyongyang to begin talks “soon.” Signs of a North-South thaw have prompted speculation that it could lead to direct talks between Washington and Pyongyang after months of tension and exchanges of insults between U.S. President Donald Trump and Kim, fueling fears of war. North Korea has refrained from carrying out any weapons tests since late November, when it shot off its largest intercontinental ballistic missile. "The President made a decision that if they wanted to talk, we would deliver our uncompromising message. If they asked for a meeting, we would meet. He also made clear that until they agreed to complete denuclearization we weren’t going to change any of our positions or negotiate," Ayers said, echoing comments made by Pence since he left the Olympics and other U.S. officials.

Secret Pence, North Korea meeting planned, then scrapped

North Korea could co-host the 2021 Winter Asian Games with the South, a top Pyongyang sports&nbsp;official said Tuesday as the two countries&#39; unified ice hockey team played its last Olympic match.

The Pyeongchang Olympics in the South has seen the North engage in a charm offensive, sending athletes, cheerleaders, and its leader Kim Jong Un&#39;s sister to attend the Games and meet with President Moon Jae-in.

It is a marked contrast to the tensions of last year when the nuclear-armed North carried out a barrage of missile tests and its biggest atomic blast to date.

The governor of Gangwon province, which includes Pyeongchang, said at the weekend he was considering a bid for the two Koreas to co-host the 2021 Winter Asian Games, adding the North&#39;s Masikryong ski resort could be used.

Chang Ung, the North Korean member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), said the idea was &quot;sufficiently possible&quot;.

&quot;Since a smaller number of countries participates in the Asian Games, it would be easier than the Olympics,&quot; he was quoted by Yonhap news agency as saying in Beijing on his way back to Pyongyang.

But the previous speculation about the two co-hosting sporting events has gone nowhere.

Chang praised the Pyeongchang Games as &quot;perfect&quot;, adding: &quot;The Olympics are a great success, thanks to unity achieved by the Korean people.&quot;

The Asian Winter Games take place every four years, with the hosts for the 2021 event to be chosen at this year&#39;s Summer Asian Games in Indonesia in August.

&nbsp;

A top Pyongyang sports official said North Korea could co-host the 2021 Winter Asian Games with the South

North Korea could co-host the 2021 Winter Asian Games with the South, a top Pyongyang sports official said Tuesday as the two countries' unified ice hockey team played its last Olympic match. The Pyeongchang Olympics in the South has seen the North engage in a charm offensive, sending athletes, cheerleaders, and its leader Kim Jong Un's sister to attend the Games and meet with President Moon Jae-in. It is a marked contrast to the tensions of last year when the nuclear-armed North carried out a barrage of missile tests and its biggest atomic blast to date. The governor of Gangwon province, which includes Pyeongchang, said at the weekend he was considering a bid for the two Koreas to co-host the 2021 Winter Asian Games, adding the North's Masikryong ski resort could be used. Chang Ung, the North Korean member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), said the idea was "sufficiently possible". "Since a smaller number of countries participates in the Asian Games, it would be easier than the Olympics," he was quoted by Yonhap news agency as saying in Beijing on his way back to Pyongyang. But the previous speculation about the two co-hosting sporting events has gone nowhere. Chang praised the Pyeongchang Games as "perfect", adding: "The Olympics are a great success, thanks to unity achieved by the Korean people." The Asian Winter Games take place every four years, with the hosts for the 2021 event to be chosen at this year's Summer Asian Games in Indonesia in August.

Two Koreas 'could co-host winter Asiad', says sports official

The message of the 2018 Pyeongchang &ldquo;Peace Olympics&rdquo; is clear.

Athletes using performance-enhancing drugs will be exiled, stripped of national colours and shunned. &ldquo;Olympic Athletes from Russia&rdquo; participating in the Winter Games are feeling such scorn.

Meanwhile, North Korea&rsquo;s 500-person Olympic delegation &mdash; attending the Olympics under duress, constant surveillance and potential abuse &mdash;are venerated. The 22 athletes and some 200 cheerleaders &mdash; an Olympic first &mdash; bear as much resemblance to the Olympic values of &ldquo;friendship, respect and excellence&rdquo; as do the Harlem Globetrotters to the NBA championships.

This sets an alarming precedent. Banning Russia while embracing North Korea reveals the deeper moral value of the Olympics.

The International Olympic Committee opposes performance-enhancing drugs that can carry an athlete to the podium. However, it remains eerily silent on how North Korea pushes their athletes towards that same podium.

&lsquo;Peaceful resolve&rsquo;

&ldquo;Olympic Truce&rdquo; dates back to ancient Greece. It allows athletes to travel safely to participate in Olympic events during times of conflict. North Korean athletes are in Pyeongchang under this edict. It is meant to build peaceful resolve to the Korean conflict.

But is diplomacy possible with North Korea? Kim Jong-un&rsquo;s state of iron-fisted control breaks international agreements with impunity.

North Koreans are not seeing live footage of the 2018 Winter Games. At most, only small snippets through state-controlled media will enter the country. As of today, North Korea has yet to broadcast any footage of the Olympics.

North Korean athletes will not interact with other delegations. They are under 24-hour surveillance by their North Korean minders. Even washroom breaks are closely scrutinized. While worried about potential defections, the North Korean regime is mostly concerned about defamation against it. South Korea even advised anti-North Korean activists to &ldquo;be quiet&rdquo; during the Games.

The process of becoming an elite athlete in North Korea is best described as &ldquo;brutal.&rdquo; Choi Hyun Mi, a North Korean boxer who defected in 2004, has described how North Korea creates Olympians. The government selected her at the age of 11 to box. Food was used for both control and incentive. Fight harder, and you will eat more. Falter, and you will starve.

Abused and condemned

Demoralizing tasks are doled out to those who perform poorly. Choi recalls how athletes were forced to stand in front of crowds to be publicly abused and condemned if they fail to win.

&ldquo;Shaming was particularly bad to competitors who lost to rivals from South Korea, Japan or the United States,&rdquo; she said.&nbsp;

There will be consequences if any of the North Korean delegates err from the script. The regime monitors the families of its athletes, and occasionally holds them as collateral. Speaking off script, or causing shame to the leader or the regime in any way, can result in detention and political re-education.

Three generations can be punished in North Korea if a family member is suspected of defamation of the leader, espionage or contact with foreigners.

To such accounts of human rights abuses, the International Olympic Committee turns a blind eye. But to weed out performance-enhancing dopers, it will scour every last drop of urine.

Sports diplomacy can be an effective means of engagement. The Olympics has in the past shown the communality of sport between Soviet and Western nations. &nbsp;The 1972 Canada/Soviet Union Summit Series was a moment of nationalist fervour and served as a diplomatic gateway to view the other side as human beings passionate about a sport both countries adore.

Great political moment

In 1991, pending the collapse of the Soviet Union, Cuba hosted the Pan-American games to open up to its neighbours. The 1995 Rugby World Cup is credited as an important diplomatic moment for post-Apartheid South Africa.

But in what sense can there be sports diplomacy with a regime willing to punish family members of athletes, and one that systematically abuses its athletes as part of their Olympic training?

The theme &ldquo;Peace Olympics&rdquo; and the Olympic Truce imply that politics are put on hold, but for North Korea, Pyeongchang is a great political moment. It is a chance to capitalize on the world&rsquo;s fascination about the Hermit Kingdom, while turning a blind eye to the gruesome human rights abuses within the regime.

Make no mistake, sending some 200 female cheerleaders to the Olympics makes for a fantastic diversion from the fact that most North Korean refugees are women, and many are &nbsp;trafficked into the sex trade in China.&nbsp;

The Olympics are also an opportunity to have direct talks free of Donald Trump&rsquo;s dim-witted Tweets about North Korea. But seeking sport diplomacy with North Korea sets a precedent that overlooks human rights abuses, and even validates them as a means to engagement.

So let it be declared that doping and sport diplomacy do not mix. But as North Korea shows, hunger, abuse and propaganda represent a path to the medal podium.&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

It is strange that International Olympic Committee is okay with states violating human rights, such as North Korea but banning Russia on charges of doping.

The message of the 2018 Pyeongchang “Peace Olympics” is clear. Athletes using performance-enhancing drugs will be exiled, stripped of national colours and shunned. “Olympic Athletes from Russia” participating in the Winter Games are feeling such scorn. Meanwhile, North Korea’s 500-person Olympic delegation — attending the Olympics under duress, constant surveillance and potential abuse —are venerated. The 22 athletes and some 200 cheerleaders — an Olympic first — bear as much resemblance to the Olympic values of “friendship, respect and excellence” as do the Harlem Globetrotters to the NBA championships. This sets an alarming precedent. Banning Russia while embracing North Korea reveals the deeper moral value of the Olympics. The International Olympic Committee opposes performance-enhancing drugs that can carry an athlete to the podium. However, it remains eerily silent on how North Korea pushes their athletes towards that same podium. ‘Peaceful resolve’ “Olympic Truce” dates back to ancient Greece. It allows athletes to travel safely to participate in Olympic events during times of conflict. North Korean athletes are in Pyeongchang under this edict. It is meant to build peaceful resolve to the Korean conflict. But is diplomacy possible with North Korea? Kim Jong-un’s state of iron-fisted control breaks international agreements with impunity. North Koreans are not seeing live footage of the 2018 Winter Games. At most, only small snippets through state-controlled media will enter the country. As of today, North Korea has yet to broadcast any footage of the Olympics. North Korean athletes will not interact with other delegations. They are under 24-hour surveillance by their North Korean minders. Even washroom breaks are closely scrutinized. While worried about potential defections, the North Korean regime is mostly concerned about defamation against it. South Korea even advised anti-North Korean activists to “be quiet” during the Games. The process of becoming an elite athlete in North Korea is best described as “brutal.” Choi Hyun Mi, a North Korean boxer who defected in 2004, has described how North Korea creates Olympians. The government selected her at the age of 11 to box. Food was used for both control and incentive. Fight harder, and you will eat more. Falter, and you will starve. Abused and condemned Demoralizing tasks are doled out to those who perform poorly. Choi recalls how athletes were forced to stand in front of crowds to be publicly abused and condemned if they fail to win. “Shaming was particularly bad to competitors who lost to rivals from South Korea, Japan or the United States,” she said. There will be consequences if any of the North Korean delegates err from the script. The regime monitors the families of its athletes, and occasionally holds them as collateral. Speaking off script, or causing shame to the leader or the regime in any way, can result in detention and political re-education. Three generations can be punished in North Korea if a family member is suspected of defamation of the leader, espionage or contact with foreigners. To such accounts of human rights abuses, the International Olympic Committee turns a blind eye. But to weed out performance-enhancing dopers, it will scour every last drop of urine. Sports diplomacy can be an effective means of engagement. The Olympics has in the past shown the communality of sport between Soviet and Western nations. The 1972 Canada/Soviet Union Summit Series was a moment of nationalist fervour and served as a diplomatic gateway to view the other side as human beings passionate about a sport both countries adore. Great political moment In 1991, pending the collapse of the Soviet Union, Cuba hosted the Pan-American games to open up to its neighbours. The 1995 Rugby World Cup is credited as an important diplomatic moment for post-Apartheid South Africa. But in what sense can there be sports diplomacy with a regime willing to punish family members of athletes, and one that systematically abuses its athletes as part of their Olympic training? The theme “Peace Olympics” and the Olympic Truce imply that politics are put on hold, but for North Korea, Pyeongchang is a great political moment. It is a chance to capitalize on the world’s fascination about the Hermit Kingdom, while turning a blind eye to the gruesome human rights abuses within the regime. Make no mistake, sending some 200 female cheerleaders to the Olympics makes for a fantastic diversion from the fact that most North Korean refugees are women, and many are trafficked into the sex trade in China. The Olympics are also an opportunity to have direct talks free of Donald Trump’s dim-witted Tweets about North Korea. But seeking sport diplomacy with North Korea sets a precedent that overlooks human rights abuses, and even validates them as a means to engagement. So let it be declared that doping and sport diplomacy do not mix. But as North Korea shows, hunger, abuse and propaganda represent a path to the medal podium. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: North Korea trains Olympic athletes through hunger, abuse and propaganda

&nbsp;US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said in an interview to air tomorrow that he is &quot;listening&quot; for signs that North Korea is ready to engage in direct talks.

&quot;My job as chief diplomat is to ensure that the North Koreans know, we keep our channels open,&quot; Tillerson told the CBS news show &quot;60 Minutes.&quot;

&quot;I am listening. I am not sending a lot of messages back because there&#39;s nothing to say to them at this point. So I am listening for you to tell me you are ready to talk,&quot; he said, according to excerpts of the interview.

An Olympic-driven thaw in relations between Kim Jong Un&#39;s nuclear armed North Korean regime and South Korea has raised speculation that direct talks between Washington and Pyongyang could be on the horizon after months of sharp tension and heated rhetoric.

&quot;They will tell me,&quot; Tillerson told &quot;60 Minutes.&quot;

&quot;We receive messages from them, and I think it will be very explicit as to how we want to have that first conversation.&quot;

The top US diplomat however stressed that no incentive was being offered to get Pyongyang to the table.

&quot;We are not using a carrot to convince them to talk, we are using large sticks -- and that is what they need to understand,&quot; he said.

&quot;This pressure campaign is having its bite on North Korea.&quot;

The North is subject to a series of UN Security Council sanctions over its banned nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

The United States has previously indicated Washington is open to direct talks, but Tillerson stressed earlier this month that the ball was now in Pyongyang&#39;s camp.

&quot;We&#39;ve said for some time it&#39;s really up to the North Koreans to decide when they&#39;re ready to engage with us in a sincere way, a meaningful way,&quot; Tillerson said on February 12, while on a stop in Cairo.&nbsp;

'My job as chief diplomat is to ensure that the North Koreans know, we keep our channels open,' Tillerson told a news channel

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said in an interview to air tomorrow that he is "listening" for signs that North Korea is ready to engage in direct talks. "My job as chief diplomat is to ensure that the North Koreans know, we keep our channels open," Tillerson told the CBS news show "60 Minutes." "I am listening. I am not sending a lot of messages back because there's nothing to say to them at this point. So I am listening for you to tell me you are ready to talk," he said, according to excerpts of the interview. An Olympic-driven thaw in relations between Kim Jong Un's nuclear armed North Korean regime and South Korea has raised speculation that direct talks between Washington and Pyongyang could be on the horizon after months of sharp tension and heated rhetoric. "They will tell me," Tillerson told "60 Minutes." "We receive messages from them, and I think it will be very explicit as to how we want to have that first conversation." The top US diplomat however stressed that no incentive was being offered to get Pyongyang to the table. "We are not using a carrot to convince them to talk, we are using large sticks -- and that is what they need to understand," he said. "This pressure campaign is having its bite on North Korea." The North is subject to a series of UN Security Council sanctions over its banned nuclear and ballistic missile programs. The United States has previously indicated Washington is open to direct talks, but Tillerson stressed earlier this month that the ball was now in Pyongyang's camp. "We've said for some time it's really up to the North Koreans to decide when they're ready to engage with us in a sincere way, a meaningful way," Tillerson said on February 12, while on a stop in Cairo.

Tillerson to North Korea on talks: 'I'm listening'

The US director of national intelligence, <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Dan-Coats" pg="AS1_InlineMedia#AS1_https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/us-intelligence-chief-says-north-korea-decision-time-near/articleshow/62906166.cms~Dan Coats-https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Dan-Coats">Dan Coats</a>, said on Tuesday that time is running out for the United States to act on the threat posed by <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/North-Korea" pg="AS1_InlineMedia#AS1_https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/us-intelligence-chief-says-north-korea-decision-time-near/articleshow/62906166.cms~North Korea-https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/North-Korea">North Korea</a>&#39;s nuclear programmes. 
 
&quot;Decision time is becoming ever closer in terms of how we respond to this,&quot; Coats said during a hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee. &quot;Our goal is a peaceful settlement. We are using maximum pressure on North Korea in various ways.&quot; 
 
Coats told the Senate panel&#39;s annual hearing on &quot;Worldwide Threats,&quot; with testimony from leaders of major US intelligence agencies, that he expected more missile tests from North Korea this year. 
 
&quot;In the wake of accelerated missile testing since 2016, North Korea is likely to press ahead with more tests in 2018, and its Foreign Minister said that (North Korean leader) Kim (Jong Un) may be considering conducting an atmospheric nuclear test over the <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Pacific-Ocean" pg="AS1_InlineMedia#AS1_https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/us-intelligence-chief-says-north-korea-decision-time-near/articleshow/62906166.cms~Pacific Ocean-https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Pacific-Ocean">Pacific Ocean</a>,&quot; he said.

He said <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Pyongyang" pg="AS1_InlineMedia#AS1_https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/us-intelligence-chief-says-north-korea-decision-time-near/articleshow/62906166.cms~Pyongyang-https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Pyongyang">Pyongyang</a>&#39;s repeated statements that nuclear weapons are the basis for its survival suggest government leaders there &quot;do not intend to negotiate them away.&quot; 
 
Democratic Senator <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Dianne-Feinstein" pg="AS1_InlineMedia#AS1_https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/us-intelligence-chief-says-north-korea-decision-time-near/articleshow/62906166.cms~Dianne Feinstein-https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Dianne-Feinstein">Dianne Feinstein</a> asked whether US intelligence has looked into what it might take to bring North Korea to the negotiating table, but Central Intelligence Agency Director Mike Pompeo declined to discuss the subject during a public hearing. 
 
Feinstein said she had participated in a classified briefing recently on North Korea and described it as &quot;difficult and harsh.&quot;

Coats told the Senate panel's annual hearing on "Worldwide Threats," with testimony from leaders of major US intelligence agencies

The US director of national intelligence, Dan Coats, said on Tuesday that time is running out for the United States to act on the threat posed by North Korea's nuclear programmes. "Decision time is becoming ever closer in terms of how we respond to this," Coats said during a hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee. "Our goal is a peaceful settlement. We are using maximum pressure on North Korea in various ways." Coats told the Senate panel's annual hearing on "Worldwide Threats," with testimony from leaders of major US intelligence agencies, that he expected more missile tests from North Korea this year. "In the wake of accelerated missile testing since 2016, North Korea is likely to press ahead with more tests in 2018, and its Foreign Minister said that (North Korean leader) Kim (Jong Un) may be considering conducting an atmospheric nuclear test over the Pacific Ocean," he said. He said Pyongyang's repeated statements that nuclear weapons are the basis for its survival suggest government leaders there "do not intend to negotiate them away." Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein asked whether US intelligence has looked into what it might take to bring North Korea to the negotiating table, but Central Intelligence Agency Director Mike Pompeo declined to discuss the subject during a public hearing. Feinstein said she had participated in a classified briefing recently on North Korea and described it as "difficult and harsh."

US intelligence chief says North Korea 'decision time' near

A very special dessert was served at the Olympic dinner by South Korea to break the ice between South Korea and North Korea.

Dark chocolate tempered in the shape of barbed wire lay over a map of Korean peninsula rendered in thin blue chocolate, a representation of the heavily militarised border that separates South Korea and its old enemy in the North.

The guests, including leaders of North and South, were invited to pour melted white chocolate on top - and the barbed wire would dissolve.

The dessert, called &quot;A Plate of Hope&quot;, was what South Korean President Moon Jae-in served his dozen VIP guests at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics&#39; pre-opening party.

After the successful visit of lady Kim to South Korea, now time will tell whether the &quot;the chocolate barbed wire&quot; would dissolve or not between the two nations which are technically at war.

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(2/2) &quot;The dessert, called &#39;A Plate of Hope&#39;, was what South Korean President Moon Jae-in planned to serve his dozen VIP guests, which were to include U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics&rsquo; pre-opening party on Friday.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/LAc9YLuxl4">pic.twitter.com/LAc9YLuxl4</a>
&mdash; Arapaho415 (@arapaho415) <a href="https://twitter.com/arapaho415/status/962519349742379008?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 11, 2018</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

The dessert, called "A Plate of Hope", was served by South Korean President Moon Jae at an Olympic dinner

A very special dessert was served at the Olympic dinner by South Korea to break the ice between South Korea and North Korea. Dark chocolate tempered in the shape of barbed wire lay over a map of Korean peninsula rendered in thin blue chocolate, a representation of the heavily militarised border that separates South Korea and its old enemy in the North. The guests, including leaders of North and South, were invited to pour melted white chocolate on top - and the barbed wire would dissolve. The dessert, called "A Plate of Hope", was what South Korean President Moon Jae-in served his dozen VIP guests at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics' pre-opening party. After the successful visit of lady Kim to South Korea, now time will tell whether the "the chocolate barbed wire" would dissolve or not between the two nations which are technically at war. (2/2) "The dessert, called 'A Plate of Hope', was what South Korean President Moon Jae-in planned to serve his dozen VIP guests, which were to include U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics’ pre-opening party on Friday." pic.twitter.com/LAc9YLuxl4 — Arapaho415 (@arapaho415) February 11, 2018 ×

Winter Olympics: South Korea served 'Plate of Hope' to northern neighbours

U.S. President Donald Trump, who complained last month that Moscow was &quot;not helping us at all with North Korea,&quot; told Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday that more needs to be done to scrap Pyongyang`s nuclear program, the White House said.

&quot;President Trump reiterated the importance of taking further steps to ensure the denuclearisation of North Korea,&quot; the White House said in a statement about the call with Putin.

In an interview with Reuters last month, Trump accused Russia of helping North Korea evade international sanctions meant to punish Pyongyang for its pursuit of a nuclear-armed missile capable of reaching the United States.

&quot;Russia is not helping us at all with North Korea,&quot; Trump told Reuters.

Moscow denies it has failed to uphold U.N. sanctions.

Trump and Putin spoke after U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, in an interview with the Washington Post, raised the prospect of talks with North Korea.

But Pence, who travelled to South Korea for the Winter Olympics, also said Washington would intensify its &quot;maximum pressure campaign&quot; against Pyongyang until it takes a &quot;meaningful step toward denuclearisation.&quot;

Last year, North Korea cond ucted dozens of missile launches and its sixth and largest nuclear test in defiance of U.N. resolutions.

Russia signed on to the latest rounds of United Nations Security Council sanctions against North Korea imposed last year, including a ban on coal exports, which are an important source of the foreign currency Pyongyang needs to fund its nuclear program.

But North Korea shipped coal to Russia at least three times last year after the ban was put in place on Aug. 5, three Western European intelligence sources told Reuters.

The North Korean coal was shipped to the Russian ports of Nakhodka and Kholmsk, where it was unloaded at docks and reloaded onto ships that took it to South Korea or Japan, the sources said.

Trump reiterated the importance of taking further steps to ensure the denuclearisation of North Korea.

U.S. President Donald Trump, who complained last month that Moscow was "not helping us at all with North Korea," told Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday that more needs to be done to scrap Pyongyang`s nuclear program, the White House said. "President Trump reiterated the importance of taking further steps to ensure the denuclearisation of North Korea," the White House said in a statement about the call with Putin. In an interview with Reuters last month, Trump accused Russia of helping North Korea evade international sanctions meant to punish Pyongyang for its pursuit of a nuclear-armed missile capable of reaching the United States. "Russia is not helping us at all with North Korea," Trump told Reuters. Moscow denies it has failed to uphold U.N. sanctions. Trump and Putin spoke after U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, in an interview with the Washington Post, raised the prospect of talks with North Korea. But Pence, who travelled to South Korea for the Winter Olympics, also said Washington would intensify its "maximum pressure campaign" against Pyongyang until it takes a "meaningful step toward denuclearisation." Last year, North Korea cond ucted dozens of missile launches and its sixth and largest nuclear test in defiance of U.N. resolutions. Russia signed on to the latest rounds of United Nations Security Council sanctions against North Korea imposed last year, including a ban on coal exports, which are an important source of the foreign currency Pyongyang needs to fund its nuclear program. But North Korea shipped coal to Russia at least three times last year after the ban was put in place on Aug. 5, three Western European intelligence sources told Reuters. The North Korean coal was shipped to the Russian ports of Nakhodka and Kholmsk, where it was unloaded at docks and reloaded onto ships that took it to South Korea or Japan, the sources said.

More steps needed to scrap North Korea nuclear programme: Trump tells Putin

North Korean leader Kim Jong<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-has-strong-will-to-improve-inter-korean-relations-south-korea-32567"> Un today praised the &quot;impressive features</a> of&nbsp;South Korea expressing &quot;thanks&quot; to Seoul even as Japanese PM Abe said South Korean president Moon HAD agreed to keep &quot;maximum pressure&quot; on North Korea.

The North Korean delegation headed by<a href="http://www.wionews.com/photos/kim-yo-jong-meet-the-ivanka-trump-of-north-korea-684#photo-37445"> Kim&#39;s sister Kim Yo Jong</a> returned to Pyongyang on Monday.

&quot;After receiving the delegation&#39;s report, Kim Jong Un expressed satisfaction over it and said that very impressive were the features of the south side which specially prioritised the visit of the members of the DPRK side who took part in the Winter Olympics,&quot; North Korea&#39;s state-run media KCNA said.

The KCNA report said North Korean leader wished to build on the rapprochement at the Winter Olympics, saying that he felt it &quot;is important to continue making good results by further livening up the warm climate of reconciliation and dialogue&quot;.

Kim Yo Jong returned home after a successful diplomatic outreach with the South as she met President &nbsp;Moon Jae-in and helped cool&nbsp;down the political temperature on the Korean peninsula plagued by months of uncertainty over her brother Kim Jong Un&#39;s ballistic missile tests.

The report added that Kim &quot;set forth in detail the orientation of the improvement of the north-south relations and gave important instructions to the relevant field to take practical measures for it.&quot;

The North Korean delegation headed by Kim's sister Kim Yo Jong returned to Pyongyang on Monday.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un today praised the "impressive features of South Korea expressing "thanks" to Seoul even as Japanese PM Abe said South Korean president Moon HAD agreed to keep "maximum pressure" on North Korea. The North Korean delegation headed by Kim's sister Kim Yo Jong returned to Pyongyang on Monday. "After receiving the delegation's report, Kim Jong Un expressed satisfaction over it and said that very impressive were the features of the south side which specially prioritised the visit of the members of the DPRK side who took part in the Winter Olympics," North Korea's state-run media KCNA said. The KCNA report said North Korean leader wished to build on the rapprochement at the Winter Olympics, saying that he felt it "is important to continue making good results by further livening up the warm climate of reconciliation and dialogue". Kim Yo Jong returned home after a successful diplomatic outreach with the South as she met President Moon Jae-in and helped cool down the political temperature on the Korean peninsula plagued by months of uncertainty over her brother Kim Jong Un's ballistic missile tests. The report added that Kim "set forth in detail the orientation of the improvement of the north-south relations and gave important instructions to the relevant field to take practical measures for it."

'Important to continue good results,' says North Korean leader Kim

The US State Department on Friday said that they have no plans to meet North Korean officials in the upcoming PyeongChang Olympics.&nbsp;

&quot;There are no plans to meet with North Korean officials,&quot; Katina Adams, a spokeswoman for the State Department&#39;s Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, said on Friday.

The spokesperson also stated that the US did not have an objection with North Koreas participation and that their participation is not a shocker - she said in response to South Korea breaching international sanctions on the North over their invitation in the games.&nbsp;

&quot;The United States does not determine which countries may or may not participate in Olympic Games. The modern Olympic Games were born out of an ideal for peaceful sporting competition amongst nations. In that spirit, the United States looks forward to participating in the Winter Olympics in South Korea next month,&quot; she added.

She further iterated that North Koreas participation in the games is completely separate from politics.&nbsp;

Earlier, North and South Korea agreed to field a joint women&#39;s ice hockey team and march together under a unified Korea flag at the opening ceremony of the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics.

The two Koreas also agreed to hold a joint cultural event at Mount Kumgang on the North Korean east coast before the Winter Games.

The Winter Olympics is scheduled to take place at South Korea&#39;s Pyeongchang from February 9-25.

The development between the two countries has brought some ease into their strained relations.

The two sides have also agreed to hold military talks on solving border tensions.

The spokesperson also stated that the US did not have an objection with North Koreas participation and that their participation is not a shocker - she said in response to South Korea breaching international sanctions on the North over their invitation in the games

The US State Department on Friday said that they have no plans to meet North Korean officials in the upcoming PyeongChang Olympics. "There are no plans to meet with North Korean officials," Katina Adams, a spokeswoman for the State Department's Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, said on Friday. The spokesperson also stated that the US did not have an objection with North Koreas participation and that their participation is not a shocker - she said in response to South Korea breaching international sanctions on the North over their invitation in the games. "The United States does not determine which countries may or may not participate in Olympic Games. The modern Olympic Games were born out of an ideal for peaceful sporting competition amongst nations. In that spirit, the United States looks forward to participating in the Winter Olympics in South Korea next month," she added. She further iterated that North Koreas participation in the games is completely separate from politics. Earlier, North and South Korea agreed to field a joint women's ice hockey team and march together under a unified Korea flag at the opening ceremony of the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics. The two Koreas also agreed to hold a joint cultural event at Mount Kumgang on the North Korean east coast before the Winter Games. The Winter Olympics is scheduled to take place at South Korea's Pyeongchang from February 9-25. The development between the two countries has brought some ease into their strained relations. The two sides have also agreed to hold military talks on solving border tensions.

US has no plans of meeting North Korea officials in PyeongChang Olympics

North Korea and the United States clashed at a UN forum on Tuesday over their military intentions towards one another, with Pyongyang&rsquo;s envoy declaring it would &ldquo;never&rdquo; put its nuclear deterrent on the negotiating table.

Japan, well within reach of North Korea&rsquo;s missiles, said the world must maintain pressure on the reclusive country to rein in its nuclear and missile programs and now was not the time for a resumption of multi-party talks.

North Korea has pursued its weapons programs in defiance of UN Security Council sanctions and ignored all calls, including from major ally China, to stop, prompting a bellicose exchange of rhetoric between the North and the United States.

North Korea justifies its weapons programs, including its recent threat to fire missiles towards the US Pacific territory of Guam, by pointing to perceived US hostility, such as military exercises with South Korea this week.

US disarmament ambassador Robert Wood told a UN-sponsored Conference on Disarmament in Geneva US President Donald Trump&rsquo;s top priority was to protect the United States and its allies against the &ldquo;growing threat&rdquo; from North Korea and America was ready to use &ldquo;the full range of capabilities&rdquo; at its disposal.

The &ldquo;path to dialogue still remained an option&rdquo; for Pyongyang and it had the choice between poverty and belligerence on the one hand and prosperity and acceptance.

North Korea&rsquo;s envoy told the same forum the North&rsquo;s nuclear deterrent would never be up for negotiation, echoing Pyongyang&rsquo;s regular denunciation of US &ldquo;aggression&rdquo;.

&ldquo;The measures taken by the DPRK to strengthen its nuclear deterrence and develop inter-continental rockets is justifiable and a legitimate option for self-defense in the face of such apparent and real threats,&rdquo; diplomat Ju Yong Chol told the forum, referring to &ldquo;constant nuclear threats&rdquo; by the United States.

DPRK stands for the North&rsquo;s official name, the Democratic People&rsquo;s Republic of Korea.

Regarding joint US-South Korean military exercises that began on Monday, he warned: &ldquo;The ongoing military adventure would certainly add gasoline to the fire, driving the current tense situation to further deterioration.&rdquo;

Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono said pressure must be maintained until the North demonstrated it would give up its nuclear program.

&ldquo;It&rsquo;s not the time to discuss (the resumption of) six-party talks,&rdquo; Kono said, referring to stalled negotiations involving both Koreas, the United States, Russia, China and Japan.

&ldquo;It&rsquo;s time to exert pressure,&rdquo; he told reporters.

&#39;Crazy&#39; to share timeline

The head of the US military&rsquo;s Pacific Command said diplomacy was key.

Admiral Harry Harris was in South Korea to observe annual joint military drills with the South Korean military, which the North called a step towards nuclear conflict masterminded by &ldquo;war maniacs&rdquo;.

&ldquo;So we hope and we work for diplomatic solutions to the challenge presented by Kim Jong Un,&rdquo; Harris told reporters at a US air base in Osan, about an hour from Seoul, referring to the North Korean leader.

He said diplomacy was &ldquo;the most important starting point&rdquo; in response to the North&rsquo;s threat, when asked what actions by North Korea might trigger a preemptive US strike against it.

&ldquo;As far as a timeline, it would be crazy for me to share with you those tripwires in advance. If we did that, it would hardly be a military strategy,&rdquo; he said.

The United States and South Korea began the long-planned exercises on Monday, called the Ulchi Freedom Guardian, which the allies have said are purely defensive.

The drills involve tens of thousands of troops as well as computer simulations designed to prepare for war with a nuclear-capable North Korea.

The United States and South Korea are technically still at war with the North because their 1950-53 conflict ended in a truce, not a peace treaty.

Delegations from about 20 countries spoke at the four-hour UN session, including Britain, France, Australia and South Korea, all of which criticized North Korea.

&ldquo;I would like to repeat the appeal to the DPRK to listen to the fact that there is no alternative to stopping the different provocations and to return to dialogue,&rdquo; South Korean ambassador Kim Inchul said.

&ldquo;We have never threatened the DPRK with any attacks and we have never promoted the use of force.&rdquo;

North Korea has pursued its weapons programs in defiance of UN Security Council sanctions and ignored all calls

North Korea and the United States clashed at a UN forum on Tuesday over their military intentions towards one another, with Pyongyang’s envoy declaring it would “never” put its nuclear deterrent on the negotiating table. Japan, well within reach of North Korea’s missiles, said the world must maintain pressure on the reclusive country to rein in its nuclear and missile programs and now was not the time for a resumption of multi-party talks. North Korea has pursued its weapons programs in defiance of UN Security Council sanctions and ignored all calls, including from major ally China, to stop, prompting a bellicose exchange of rhetoric between the North and the United States. North Korea justifies its weapons programs, including its recent threat to fire missiles towards the US Pacific territory of Guam, by pointing to perceived US hostility, such as military exercises with South Korea this week. US disarmament ambassador Robert Wood told a UN-sponsored Conference on Disarmament in Geneva US President Donald Trump’s top priority was to protect the United States and its allies against the “growing threat” from North Korea and America was ready to use “the full range of capabilities” at its disposal. The “path to dialogue still remained an option” for Pyongyang and it had the choice between poverty and belligerence on the one hand and prosperity and acceptance. North Korea’s envoy told the same forum the North’s nuclear deterrent would never be up for negotiation, echoing Pyongyang’s regular denunciation of US “aggression”. “The measures taken by the DPRK to strengthen its nuclear deterrence and develop inter-continental rockets is justifiable and a legitimate option for self-defense in the face of such apparent and real threats,” diplomat Ju Yong Chol told the forum, referring to “constant nuclear threats” by the United States. DPRK stands for the North’s official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Regarding joint US-South Korean military exercises that began on Monday, he warned: “The ongoing military adventure would certainly add gasoline to the fire, driving the current tense situation to further deterioration.” Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono said pressure must be maintained until the North demonstrated it would give up its nuclear program. “It’s not the time to discuss (the resumption of) six-party talks,” Kono said, referring to stalled negotiations involving both Koreas, the United States, Russia, China and Japan. “It’s time to exert pressure,” he told reporters. 'Crazy' to share timeline The head of the US military’s Pacific Command said diplomacy was key. Admiral Harry Harris was in South Korea to observe annual joint military drills with the South Korean military, which the North called a step towards nuclear conflict masterminded by “war maniacs”. “So we hope and we work for diplomatic solutions to the challenge presented by Kim Jong Un,” Harris told reporters at a US air base in Osan, about an hour from Seoul, referring to the North Korean leader. He said diplomacy was “the most important starting point” in response to the North’s threat, when asked what actions by North Korea might trigger a preemptive US strike against it. “As far as a timeline, it would be crazy for me to share with you those tripwires in advance. If we did that, it would hardly be a military strategy,” he said. The United States and South Korea began the long-planned exercises on Monday, called the Ulchi Freedom Guardian, which the allies have said are purely defensive. The drills involve tens of thousands of troops as well as computer simulations designed to prepare for war with a nuclear-capable North Korea. The United States and South Korea are technically still at war with the North because their 1950-53 conflict ended in a truce, not a peace treaty. Delegations from about 20 countries spoke at the four-hour UN session, including Britain, France, Australia and South Korea, all of which criticized North Korea. “I would like to repeat the appeal to the DPRK to listen to the fact that there is no alternative to stopping the different provocations and to return to dialogue,” South Korean ambassador Kim Inchul said. “We have never threatened the DPRK with any attacks and we have never promoted the use of force.”

US, North Korea clash at UN forum over nuclear weapons

Seoul welcomed confirmation by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that 22 North Korean athletes would compete in next month`s Winter Olympics, saying on Sunday it would aid peace and the easing of tensions on the Korean peninsula.

In the first of a series of preparatory visits, North Korean music and arts officials arrived in South Korea on Sunday to inspect sites for performances during the Olympics.

&quot;North Korea`s participation in the Olympics will be a catalyst for building peace and easing tensions on the Korean peninsula,&quot; said South Korea`s presidential Blue House in a statement released on Sunday.

The visit to the South marks the first by North Koreans since South Korean President Moon Jae-in took office in May last year and sought to re-engage with the North.

&quot;President Moon has previously stressed that the Pyeongchang Olympics should be an important turning point in solving North Korea`s missile issues,&quot; the Blue House statement said.&nbsp;

The seven-member North Korean delegation, led by musician Hyon Song-wol, will check venues for performances by a 140-strong art troupe at the Olympics.

The officials are scheduled to spend two days inspecting art centres in Seoul and Gangneung city, which will also host several of the Olympic events.

South Korean broadcaster YTN reported the delegation had arrived in Seoul early Sunday under a heavy police presence, then boarded a train to Gangwon province, where the Olympics will be held from February 9-25.

Pyongyang said on Sunday it also plans to send another team of sports officials to inspect Olympic venues and accommodations from January 25-27, South Korea`s unification ministry said.

In a diplomatic breakthrough after a year of escalating tension over the North`s nuclear and missile programme, the IOC announced on Saturday that North Korea will send 22 athletes to the Winter Games and compete in three sports and five disciplines.

Until the IOC confirmation, a figure skating pair were the only North Koreans to have secured a spot at the Games through the conventional qualifying competition, although they lost their place after failing to register.

Sunday`s North Korean delegation had been scheduled to visit on Saturday but cancelled just before the visit with no explanation. Officials from both Korea`s used a cross-border hotline to quickly reschedule the visit.

Also on Sunday, South Korean officials said Pyongyang had accepted proposals for South Koreans to travel to North Korea for joint athletic training at the Masikryong Ski Resort and a cultural event at Mount Kumgang, a once-popular tourist area.

North Korean music and arts officials arrived to inspect sites for performances during the Olympics.

Seoul welcomed confirmation by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that 22 North Korean athletes would compete in next month`s Winter Olympics, saying on Sunday it would aid peace and the easing of tensions on the Korean peninsula. In the first of a series of preparatory visits, North Korean music and arts officials arrived in South Korea on Sunday to inspect sites for performances during the Olympics. "North Korea`s participation in the Olympics will be a catalyst for building peace and easing tensions on the Korean peninsula," said South Korea`s presidential Blue House in a statement released on Sunday. The visit to the South marks the first by North Koreans since South Korean President Moon Jae-in took office in May last year and sought to re-engage with the North. "President Moon has previously stressed that the Pyeongchang Olympics should be an important turning point in solving North Korea`s missile issues," the Blue House statement said. The seven-member North Korean delegation, led by musician Hyon Song-wol, will check venues for performances by a 140-strong art troupe at the Olympics. The officials are scheduled to spend two days inspecting art centres in Seoul and Gangneung city, which will also host several of the Olympic events. South Korean broadcaster YTN reported the delegation had arrived in Seoul early Sunday under a heavy police presence, then boarded a train to Gangwon province, where the Olympics will be held from February 9-25. Pyongyang said on Sunday it also plans to send another team of sports officials to inspect Olympic venues and accommodations from January 25-27, South Korea`s unification ministry said. In a diplomatic breakthrough after a year of escalating tension over the North`s nuclear and missile programme, the IOC announced on Saturday that North Korea will send 22 athletes to the Winter Games and compete in three sports and five disciplines. Until the IOC confirmation, a figure skating pair were the only North Koreans to have secured a spot at the Games through the conventional qualifying competition, although they lost their place after failing to register. Sunday`s North Korean delegation had been scheduled to visit on Saturday but cancelled just before the visit with no explanation. Officials from both Korea`s used a cross-border hotline to quickly reschedule the visit. Also on Sunday, South Korean officials said Pyongyang had accepted proposals for South Koreans to travel to North Korea for joint athletic training at the Masikryong Ski Resort and a cultural event at Mount Kumgang, a once-popular tourist area.

Seoul says North Korea's Olympic participation will aid peace and ease tensions

Call it the effect of salvos between Trump and Kim Jong-un or maybe some good sense prevailed, as a welcome gesture, North and South Korea agreed on Wednesday to march their athletes together under one flag at the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics next month and to field a joint women&rsquo;s ice hockey team.

&nbsp;

Though it is a small event but a seminal one. It may certainly pave the path for a possible political reconciliation between these two nations. The event is significant for the world as it is the sign of ebbing madness of Kin Jong-un who appeared hell-bent to go for a skirmish with the USA and pushing the world to the danger of nuclear war.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Sports and politics, diplomacy and animosity have been in a close relationship for decades, more of a love-hate relationship. Sports, by and large, have been great healer and reconciler. At times it has set the tone for a larger peace narrative. Remember, how in 1987&nbsp; Pakistan&rsquo;s premier Zia-ul-Haq flew to Jaipur to catch the action of India-Pakistan Test match after BCCI extended invitation to him. Zia claimed that his objective was to restore communication and release tension. Later that year, India and Pakistan jointly organised the ICC Cricket World Cup.

&nbsp;

Sports breaks the barrier, brings good sense, embarrasses flag bearers of hatred and serve as the epitome of great human values. In the 1936 Berlin Olympic, Hitler was determined to showcase Germany&#39;s might to the world. However, it was an American black athlete Jesse Owens who stole the show by winning four Gold Medals in Athletics.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Later, Owens revealed something very interesting. In the Long Jump event, Owens was committing regular foul jumps and the threat of omission was looming. Luz Long, a German white, who himself was competing in the Long Jump, went over to Owens and gave him a technical tip. The tip was dead right; as Owens went on to win Gold Medal whereas Luz Long finished second. Long&rsquo;s goodwill gesture had cost him the Gold Medal. After the competition is over, Long strolled back to the dressing room arm-in-arm with Owens in front of Adolf Hitler. Long knew that this gesture would not go well with Nazis but it is the sportsman spirit, which prevailed.

&nbsp;

I remember how spectators during the opening ceremony of 1992 Barcelona Olympics were in tears when the unified Germany team came out for a parade. It was a historic moment and it was possible due to Germany&#39;s unification in 1990.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

When the relationship between India and Pakistan had spoiled badly after the 1965 and the 1971 wars, it was cricket which played a major role in smoothening things. After Cricket Control boards of both nations took initiative, India toured Pakistan in 1978 for a historical Test series after 17 years. Incidentally, it was debut series of the legendary Kapil Dev.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

If sports have been a great healer and reconciler, it has been one of the biggest sufferers of the political and diplomatic slugfest.

During the peak of Cold War, sports became a playground for supremacy. Egos of USA and USSR were clashing in the sports arena, turning it into a battleground. USSR with allies like GDR (better known as East Germany) was giving a tough fight to the USA (with West Germany) at Olympics. It was a matter of huge pride for them that who stood where in the medal tally.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The passion for competition reached a level when Boris Spassky from the USSR met Bobby Fisher of USA for the World Chess title at Reykjavik (Iceland) in 1972; both countries treated it as a pseudo war. It received unprecedented media attention across the world. It reached to such a level that, reportedly, the US National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger phoned reluctant Bobby Fischer from Washington and said &ldquo;America wants you to go over there and beat the Russians. Go to Iceland.&rdquo; It became a fight for pride for two superpowers. Fisher won and the whole US rejoiced as Chess was a game which Soviet had ruled till then.

&nbsp;

The animosity hurt sports festivals badly. The USSR hosted Olympic Games in 1980, which the USA and allied countries boycotted. Four years later, the USSR and allies settled the score by boycotting the 1984 Olympic Games held at Los Angles USA.

&nbsp;

Would wrap this discussion with mention of iconic Cuban boxer Teofilo Stevenson. Teofilo won Gold Medals in boxing in 1972, 1976 and 1980 Olympics. Teofilo was eying his fourth Gold Medal in 1984 Olympics but Cuba boycotted the game. Teofilo started preparing for the 1988 Olympics. The 1988 Olympics was hosted by South Korea. North Korea boycotted the game. To show its solidarity with North Korea, Cuba boycotted the games. Teofilo broke. He gave up and took retirement.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

This year&#39;s Winter Olympics has come as a great messenger of peace and reconciliation. In spite of whatever pain and damage politics and diplomacy have inflicted on sports and sportspersons, sports, as usual, is playing its part to bring harmony to this globe.

&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)&nbsp;&nbsp;

After the 1971 war, Cricket Control boards of Pakistan and India took initiative, India toured Pakistan in 1978 for a historical Test series after 17 years. Incidentally, it was debut series of the legendary Kapil Dev.

Call it the effect of salvos between Trump and Kim Jong-un or maybe some good sense prevailed, as a welcome gesture, North and South Korea agreed on Wednesday to march their athletes together under one flag at the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics next month and to field a joint women’s ice hockey team. Though it is a small event but a seminal one. It may certainly pave the path for a possible political reconciliation between these two nations. The event is significant for the world as it is the sign of ebbing madness of Kin Jong-un who appeared hell-bent to go for a skirmish with the USA and pushing the world to the danger of nuclear war. Sports and politics, diplomacy and animosity have been in a close relationship for decades, more of a love-hate relationship. Sports, by and large, have been great healer and reconciler. At times it has set the tone for a larger peace narrative. Remember, how in 1987 Pakistan’s premier Zia-ul-Haq flew to Jaipur to catch the action of India-Pakistan Test match after BCCI extended invitation to him. Zia claimed that his objective was to restore communication and release tension. Later that year, India and Pakistan jointly organised the ICC Cricket World Cup. Sports breaks the barrier, brings good sense, embarrasses flag bearers of hatred and serve as the epitome of great human values. In the 1936 Berlin Olympic, Hitler was determined to showcase Germany's might to the world. However, it was an American black athlete Jesse Owens who stole the show by winning four Gold Medals in Athletics. Later, Owens revealed something very interesting. In the Long Jump event, Owens was committing regular foul jumps and the threat of omission was looming. Luz Long, a German white, who himself was competing in the Long Jump, went over to Owens and gave him a technical tip. The tip was dead right; as Owens went on to win Gold Medal whereas Luz Long finished second. Long’s goodwill gesture had cost him the Gold Medal. After the competition is over, Long strolled back to the dressing room arm-in-arm with Owens in front of Adolf Hitler. Long knew that this gesture would not go well with Nazis but it is the sportsman spirit, which prevailed. I remember how spectators during the opening ceremony of 1992 Barcelona Olympics were in tears when the unified Germany team came out for a parade. It was a historic moment and it was possible due to Germany's unification in 1990. When the relationship between India and Pakistan had spoiled badly after the 1965 and the 1971 wars, it was cricket which played a major role in smoothening things. After Cricket Control boards of both nations took initiative, India toured Pakistan in 1978 for a historical Test series after 17 years. Incidentally, it was debut series of the legendary Kapil Dev. If sports have been a great healer and reconciler, it has been one of the biggest sufferers of the political and diplomatic slugfest. During the peak of Cold War, sports became a playground for supremacy. Egos of USA and USSR were clashing in the sports arena, turning it into a battleground. USSR with allies like GDR (better known as East Germany) was giving a tough fight to the USA (with West Germany) at Olympics. It was a matter of huge pride for them that who stood where in the medal tally. The passion for competition reached a level when Boris Spassky from the USSR met Bobby Fisher of USA for the World Chess title at Reykjavik (Iceland) in 1972; both countries treated it as a pseudo war. It received unprecedented media attention across the world. It reached to such a level that, reportedly, the US National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger phoned reluctant Bobby Fischer from Washington and said “America wants you to go over there and beat the Russians. Go to Iceland.” It became a fight for pride for two superpowers. Fisher won and the whole US rejoiced as Chess was a game which Soviet had ruled till then. The animosity hurt sports festivals badly. The USSR hosted Olympic Games in 1980, which the USA and allied countries boycotted. Four years later, the USSR and allies settled the score by boycotting the 1984 Olympic Games held at Los Angles USA. Would wrap this discussion with mention of iconic Cuban boxer Teofilo Stevenson. Teofilo won Gold Medals in boxing in 1972, 1976 and 1980 Olympics. Teofilo was eying his fourth Gold Medal in 1984 Olympics but Cuba boycotted the game. Teofilo started preparing for the 1988 Olympics. The 1988 Olympics was hosted by South Korea. North Korea boycotted the game. To show its solidarity with North Korea, Cuba boycotted the games. Teofilo broke. He gave up and took retirement. This year's Winter Olympics has come as a great messenger of peace and reconciliation. In spite of whatever pain and damage politics and diplomacy have inflicted on sports and sportspersons, sports, as usual, is playing its part to bring harmony to this globe. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Enemies in war, friends in sports. Koreas are not the only one

North Korea will mark the foundation of its regular army on February 8, its state media said Tuesday -- which will be the day before the Winter Olympics open in the South.

Reports and officials say that Pyongyang could be preparing a military parade as a display of strength ahead of the sporting festival, which has triggered a rare rapprochement between the two halves of the divided peninsula.

In recent years Pyongyang has proclaimed April 25 as the establishment of its army, naming it as the day the country&#39;s founder Kim Il-Sung set up anti-Japanese guerrilla forces in 1932.

It will now mark the foundation on February 8, when Kim launched the Korean People&#39;s Army (KPA) regular armed forces in 1948, the ruling Workers&#39; Party announced.

Until 1978 the anniversary was marked on the February date, and the switch back gives Pyongyang a formal justification if it decides to go ahead with a parade next month, which will be the 70th anniversary of the regular military&#39;s establishment.

Satellite photos have shown troops and military vehicles rehearsing at an airfield near Pyongyang for an event.

A South Korean government official told the Yonhap news agency that they were increasing in numbers.

&quot;At Mirim airfield, 13,000 soldiers and some 200 vehicles were spotted preparing for the parade,&quot; the unidentified official was quoted as saying.

But Pyongyang is bitterly cold in February and the numbers are smaller than those involved in a giant spectacle last April to mark the 105th anniversary of Kim Il-Sung&#39;s birth, which showcased a range of weaponry including what appeared to be a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).

The government and other authorities will take &quot;practical steps to significantly mark&quot; the February 8 anniversary, which was &quot;a historic day&quot;, said the ruling party&#39;s Political Bureau, according to the North&#39;s state news agency KCNA.

April 25 will continue to be marked as the founding anniversary of the Korean People&#39;s Revolutionary Army, it added.

Under current leader Kim Jong-Un, Kim Il-Sung&#39;s grandson, Pyongyang last year rattled the international community with nuclear and missile tests.

But it has agreed to send athletes to the South&#39;s Pyeongchang Winter Olympics,&nbsp;march with the South under one flag at the opening ceremony and form an inter-Korean women&#39;s ice hockey team.

&nbsp;

Satellite photos have shown troops and military vehicles rehearsing at an airfield near Pyongyang for an event

North Korea will mark the foundation of its regular army on February 8, its state media said Tuesday -- which will be the day before the Winter Olympics open in the South. Reports and officials say that Pyongyang could be preparing a military parade as a display of strength ahead of the sporting festival, which has triggered a rare rapprochement between the two halves of the divided peninsula. In recent years Pyongyang has proclaimed April 25 as the establishment of its army, naming it as the day the country's founder Kim Il-Sung set up anti-Japanese guerrilla forces in 1932. It will now mark the foundation on February 8, when Kim launched the Korean People's Army (KPA) regular armed forces in 1948, the ruling Workers' Party announced. Until 1978 the anniversary was marked on the February date, and the switch back gives Pyongyang a formal justification if it decides to go ahead with a parade next month, which will be the 70th anniversary of the regular military's establishment. Satellite photos have shown troops and military vehicles rehearsing at an airfield near Pyongyang for an event. A South Korean government official told the Yonhap news agency that they were increasing in numbers. "At Mirim airfield, 13,000 soldiers and some 200 vehicles were spotted preparing for the parade," the unidentified official was quoted as saying. But Pyongyang is bitterly cold in February and the numbers are smaller than those involved in a giant spectacle last April to mark the 105th anniversary of Kim Il-Sung's birth, which showcased a range of weaponry including what appeared to be a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). The government and other authorities will take "practical steps to significantly mark" the February 8 anniversary, which was "a historic day", said the ruling party's Political Bureau, according to the North's state news agency KCNA. April 25 will continue to be marked as the founding anniversary of the Korean People's Revolutionary Army, it added. Under current leader Kim Jong-Un, Kim Il-Sung's grandson, Pyongyang last year rattled the international community with nuclear and missile tests. But it has agreed to send athletes to the South's Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, march with the South under one flag at the opening ceremony and form an inter-Korean women's ice hockey team.

North Korea says will celebrate military on eve of Olympics

North Korea will send 22 athletes to the Winter Games in the neighbouring South next month and compete in three sports and five disciplines, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said on Saturday.

The IOC said in a statement that the North and South had agreed to march under a single flag at the opening ceremony and would field a united team in the women&rsquo;s ice hockey, confirming earlier reports. The North will also send 24 officials and 21 media representatives.

North Korea&rsquo;s planned involvement in Pyeongchang is viewed as a sign of easing tensions over its nuclear and missile programme.

The IOC said that the United Korean delegation would be led into the Olympic Stadium for the opening ceremony under the Korean Unification Flag which would be carried by two athletes, one from each country.

The three sports in which North Korea will compete are ice skating and skiing in addition to women&rsquo;s ice hockey, the IOC said.

Until Saturday, a figure skating pair were the only North Koreans to have secured a spot at the Games.

&rdquo;Today marks the milestone on a long journey,&ldquo; said IOC president Thomas Bach in a prepared declaration. &rdquo;Since 2014, the IOC has addressed the special situation of having the Olympic Winter Games on the Korean peninsula.

&ldquo;Such an agreement would have seemed impossible only a few weeks ago,&rdquo; he added. &ldquo;The Olympic Winter Games are hopefully opening the door to a brighter future on the Korean peninsula.&rdquo;

North Korea’s planned involvement in Pyeongchang is viewed as a sign of easing tensions over its nuclear and missile programme

North Korea will send 22 athletes to the Winter Games in the neighbouring South next month and compete in three sports and five disciplines, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said on Saturday. The IOC said in a statement that the North and South had agreed to march under a single flag at the opening ceremony and would field a united team in the women’s ice hockey, confirming earlier reports. The North will also send 24 officials and 21 media representatives. North Korea’s planned involvement in Pyeongchang is viewed as a sign of easing tensions over its nuclear and missile programme. The IOC said that the United Korean delegation would be led into the Olympic Stadium for the opening ceremony under the Korean Unification Flag which would be carried by two athletes, one from each country. The three sports in which North Korea will compete are ice skating and skiing in addition to women’s ice hockey, the IOC said. Until Saturday, a figure skating pair were the only North Koreans to have secured a spot at the Games. ”Today marks the milestone on a long journey,“ said IOC president Thomas Bach in a prepared declaration. ”Since 2014, the IOC has addressed the special situation of having the Olympic Winter Games on the Korean peninsula. “Such an agreement would have seemed impossible only a few weeks ago,” he added. “The Olympic Winter Games are hopefully opening the door to a brighter future on the Korean peninsula.”

Winter Olympics 2018: North Korea will send 22 athletes to Pyeongchang

The United States announced new sanctions on Wednesday aimed at stopping North Korea&#39;s nuclear weapons development and urged China and Russia to expel North Koreans raising funds for the programs.

The US Treasury imposed sanctions on nine entities, 16 people and six North Korean ships it accused of helping the weapons programs. It said two China-based trading firms were involved in exporting millions of dollars worth of metals and other goods used in weapons production.

The individuals included members of North Korea&#39;s Workers Party operating in China, Russia and Georgia&#39;s breakaway Abkhazia region. Among them were North Korea&#39;s vice consul in Nakhodka, Russia and an individual reportedly involved in sending North Korean labourers to Abkhazia.

&quot;Treasury continues to systematically target individuals and entities financing the Kim regime and its weapons programs, including officials complicit in North Korean sanctions evasion schemes,&quot; Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement.

&quot;The US government is targeting illicit actors in China, Russia, and elsewhere who are working on behalf of North Korean financial networks, and calling for their expulsion from the territories where they reside.&quot;

The entities sanctioned included North Korea&#39;s Ministry of Crude Oil Industry.

The action enables the United States to block assets held by the individuals or firms in the United States and prohibits US citizens from dealing with them.

Asked if the Chinese companies sanctioned by the United States had broken sanctions, foreign ministry spokeswomen Hua Chunying said that she did not have all the facts right now.

China will investigate any company or individual that is found to have violated UN resolutions in accordance with Chinese law, she said.

&quot;China resolutely opposes any country using its own laws to carry out long-arm jurisdiction on Chinese companies or individuals,&quot; she said.

The United States has led an international campaign to tighten sanctions on North Korea to force it to give up development of nuclear weapons and missiles capable of hitting the United States.

The UN Security Council in December unanimously imposed new sanctions on North Korea for a recent intercontinental ballistic missile test, seeking to further limit its access to refined petroleum products and crude oil.

CIA director Mike Pompeo has said North Korea is &quot;a handful of months&quot; away from being able to make a nuclear attack on the United States.

On Tuesday, he said US President Donald Trump&#39;s focus was on a diplomatic solution to the crisis backed by tighter sanctions, but the CIA was working to provide a range of other options should that fail.

The Trump administration has said all options are on the table including military ones, and officials say the president and his advisers have discussed the possibility of a limited strike. But debate on military options has lost some momentum in recent weeks after North and South Korea resumed talks ahead of next month&#39;s Winter Olympics in the South.

Sanctions expert Anthony Ruggiero of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies think tank said the Treasury move showed Trump&#39;s &quot;maximum pressure&quot; policy would continue even with the focus on the inter-Korea talks.

&quot;The action against Chinese firms is important as it increases the pressure on Beijing to stop Chinese nationals from facilitating North Korea&#39;s sanctions evasion,&quot; he said.

Treasury named the firms as Beijing Chengxing Trading Co Ltd and Dandong Jinxiang Trade Co Ltd.

A senior US official said this week that despite the Trump administration&rsquo;s recent public focus on Russia, China remained the main culprit in North Korea sanctions busting. He pointed to involvement of Chinese organized crime groups, banks, and government officials in the peddling of amphetamines, counterfeit currency and fake luxury goods.

While China has backed successive rounds of UN sanctions on North Korea it worries that excessive pressure could cause the collapse of a country it has long considered a strategic ally.

The United States announced new sanctions on Wednesday aimed at stopping North Korea's nuclear weapons development and urged China and Russia to expel North Koreans raising funds for the programs

The United States announced new sanctions on Wednesday aimed at stopping North Korea's nuclear weapons development and urged China and Russia to expel North Koreans raising funds for the programs. The US Treasury imposed sanctions on nine entities, 16 people and six North Korean ships it accused of helping the weapons programs. It said two China-based trading firms were involved in exporting millions of dollars worth of metals and other goods used in weapons production. The individuals included members of North Korea's Workers Party operating in China, Russia and Georgia's breakaway Abkhazia region. Among them were North Korea's vice consul in Nakhodka, Russia and an individual reportedly involved in sending North Korean labourers to Abkhazia. "Treasury continues to systematically target individuals and entities financing the Kim regime and its weapons programs, including officials complicit in North Korean sanctions evasion schemes," Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement. "The US government is targeting illicit actors in China, Russia, and elsewhere who are working on behalf of North Korean financial networks, and calling for their expulsion from the territories where they reside." The entities sanctioned included North Korea's Ministry of Crude Oil Industry. The action enables the United States to block assets held by the individuals or firms in the United States and prohibits US citizens from dealing with them. Asked if the Chinese companies sanctioned by the United States had broken sanctions, foreign ministry spokeswomen Hua Chunying said that she did not have all the facts right now. China will investigate any company or individual that is found to have violated UN resolutions in accordance with Chinese law, she said. "China resolutely opposes any country using its own laws to carry out long-arm jurisdiction on Chinese companies or individuals," she said. The United States has led an international campaign to tighten sanctions on North Korea to force it to give up development of nuclear weapons and missiles capable of hitting the United States. The UN Security Council in December unanimously imposed new sanctions on North Korea for a recent intercontinental ballistic missile test, seeking to further limit its access to refined petroleum products and crude oil. CIA director Mike Pompeo has said North Korea is "a handful of months" away from being able to make a nuclear attack on the United States. On Tuesday, he said US President Donald Trump's focus was on a diplomatic solution to the crisis backed by tighter sanctions, but the CIA was working to provide a range of other options should that fail. The Trump administration has said all options are on the table including military ones, and officials say the president and his advisers have discussed the possibility of a limited strike. But debate on military options has lost some momentum in recent weeks after North and South Korea resumed talks ahead of next month's Winter Olympics in the South. Sanctions expert Anthony Ruggiero of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies think tank said the Treasury move showed Trump's "maximum pressure" policy would continue even with the focus on the inter-Korea talks. "The action against Chinese firms is important as it increases the pressure on Beijing to stop Chinese nationals from facilitating North Korea's sanctions evasion," he said. Treasury named the firms as Beijing Chengxing Trading Co Ltd and Dandong Jinxiang Trade Co Ltd. A senior US official said this week that despite the Trump administration’s recent public focus on Russia, China remained the main culprit in North Korea sanctions busting. He pointed to involvement of Chinese organized crime groups, banks, and government officials in the peddling of amphetamines, counterfeit currency and fake luxury goods. While China has backed successive rounds of UN sanctions on North Korea it worries that excessive pressure could cause the collapse of a country it has long considered a strategic ally.

US imposes more North Korea sanctions; urges China, Russia expulsions

As the Winter Olympics <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/too-early-to-say-winter-olympics-will-have-any-traction-mattis-on-north-korea-32525">got underway in South Korea last week</a> with North Korean team walking jointly with their southern neighbours, South Korea said it will arrange more family reunions in the future.

&quot;The visit shows that North Korea has a strong will to improve inter-Korean relations and that Pyongyang can make unprecedented and bold measures if deemed necessary,&quot; Ministry of Unification said in a statement.

Kim Jong Un&#39;s younger sister Kim Yo Jong has been actively attending the winter games in Pyeongchang. Yo Jong attending the opening ceremony on Sunday sitting next to the wife of US vice-president Mike Pence.

&quot;Under a strong position for denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula, Korea will faithfully implement the international sanctions on North Korea, while also adhering to the principle of resolution through peaceful means,&quot; the statement added.

Yo Jong and her delegation met with top South Korean government officials including president Moon as tensions between the two countries seem to ebb.

However, US defense secretary Jim Mattis said the recent Olympic bonhomie between the two countries did not mean peace will reign on the Korean peninsula.

&quot;Clearly it is too early to say... if that is going to have any traction once the Olympics are over,&quot; the US defense secretary said.

&quot;In the midst of all of this, he (Kim Jong Un) ran a military parade that highlighted his ballistic missiles,&quot; he added.

US defense secretary Jim Mattis said the recent Olympic bonhomie between the two countries did not mean peace will reign on the Korean peninsula.

As the Winter Olympics got underway in South Korea last week with North Korean team walking jointly with their southern neighbours, South Korea said it will arrange more family reunions in the future. "The visit shows that North Korea has a strong will to improve inter-Korean relations and that Pyongyang can make unprecedented and bold measures if deemed necessary," Ministry of Unification said in a statement. Kim Jong Un's younger sister Kim Yo Jong has been actively attending the winter games in Pyeongchang. Yo Jong attending the opening ceremony on Sunday sitting next to the wife of US vice-president Mike Pence. "Under a strong position for denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula, Korea will faithfully implement the international sanctions on North Korea, while also adhering to the principle of resolution through peaceful means," the statement added. Yo Jong and her delegation met with top South Korean government officials including president Moon as tensions between the two countries seem to ebb. However, US defense secretary Jim Mattis said the recent Olympic bonhomie between the two countries did not mean peace will reign on the Korean peninsula. "Clearly it is too early to say... if that is going to have any traction once the Olympics are over," the US defense secretary said. "In the midst of all of this, he (Kim Jong Un) ran a military parade that highlighted his ballistic missiles," he added.

North Korea has strong will to improve inter-Korean relations: South Korea

Japan today warned against being &quot;blinded&quot; by North Korea&#39;s diplomatic charm offensive at the Winter Olympics, saying the main goal remains ridding Pyongyang of nuclear weapons.

Japan&#39;s Foreign Minister Taro Kono used a visit to Singapore, the current chair of the ASEAN regional bloc, to call for unity in dealing with Pyongyang, a spokesman said.

&quot;We need to maximise pressure on North Korea, to corner North Korea to change its policy by fully implementing the UN Security Council Resolution,&quot; said Toshihide Ando, deputy press secretary at Japan&#39;s foreign affairs ministry.

&quot;We will continue to work with the United States and South Korea on this issue. But it&#39;s important that we should not be blinded by the charm offensive by North Korea,&quot; he told reporters at a briefing on Kono&#39;s visit.

He said Kono met Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan separately and discussed regional issues, including developments on the Korean Peninsula.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has used the Winter Games hosted by South Korea in Pyeongchang to unleash a diplomatic push for his isolated regime.

Kim sent his powerful sister Kim Yo Jong to the Games where she delivered a letter inviting South Korean President Moon Jae-in to a summit. She is the first member of the dynasty to set foot in the South since the Korean War.

North Korea&#39;s delegation to the Games also included the country&#39;s ceremonial head of state and hundreds of female cheerleaders.

Analysts have said the charm offensive aims to drive a wedge between Seoul and Washington and weaken the world community&#39;s resolve to force the regime to abandon atomic weapons.

A day before the Winter Games, the North staged a military parade in Pyongyang to mark the 70th anniversary of its armed forces, putting its intercontinental ballistic missiles on show.&nbsp;

Japan's Foreign Minister Taro Kono used a visit to Singapore, the current chair of the ASEAN regional bloc, to call for unity in dealing with Pyongyang, a spokesman said

Japan today warned against being "blinded" by North Korea's diplomatic charm offensive at the Winter Olympics, saying the main goal remains ridding Pyongyang of nuclear weapons. Japan's Foreign Minister Taro Kono used a visit to Singapore, the current chair of the ASEAN regional bloc, to call for unity in dealing with Pyongyang, a spokesman said. "We need to maximise pressure on North Korea, to corner North Korea to change its policy by fully implementing the UN Security Council Resolution," said Toshihide Ando, deputy press secretary at Japan's foreign affairs ministry. "We will continue to work with the United States and South Korea on this issue. But it's important that we should not be blinded by the charm offensive by North Korea," he told reporters at a briefing on Kono's visit. He said Kono met Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan separately and discussed regional issues, including developments on the Korean Peninsula. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has used the Winter Games hosted by South Korea in Pyeongchang to unleash a diplomatic push for his isolated regime. Kim sent his powerful sister Kim Yo Jong to the Games where she delivered a letter inviting South Korean President Moon Jae-in to a summit. She is the first member of the dynasty to set foot in the South since the Korean War. North Korea's delegation to the Games also included the country's ceremonial head of state and hundreds of female cheerleaders. Analysts have said the charm offensive aims to drive a wedge between Seoul and Washington and weaken the world community's resolve to force the regime to abandon atomic weapons. A day before the Winter Games, the North staged a military parade in Pyongyang to mark the 70th anniversary of its armed forces, putting its intercontinental ballistic missiles on show.

Don't be 'blinded' by North Korea charm offensive: Japan

South Korean President Moon Jae-in sat next to the powerful sister of the North&#39;s leader Kim Jong Un at a concert in Seoul by musicians from Pyongyang, as conservative protesters burned the North&#39;s national flag outside Sunday.&nbsp;

The show was the final set-piece element of the North Korean delegation&#39;s landmark visit, the diplomatic highlight of the Olympics-driven rapprochement between the two halves of the peninsula, and they flew back home afterwards.

They have shared kimchi and soju with Moon, sat in the same box at the Olympics opening ceremony and cheered a unified women&#39;s ice hockey team together.

Kim on Saturday invited Moon to a summit in the North, an offer extended by his sister and special envoy Kim Yo Jong, who made history as the first member of the North&#39;s ruling dynasty to visit the South since the Korean War.

Moon did not immediately accept the invitation and has said he hopes the &quot;right conditions&quot; will be created so it can go ahead.

Pictures showed Yo Jong seated between Moon and the North&#39;s ceremonial head of state Kim Yong Nam, who is officially leading the North&#39;s delegation, and applauding at Sunday&#39;s concert.

The show by Pyongyang&#39;s Samjiyon Orchestra featured a surprise appearance by Seohyun, of top South Korean K-pop girlband Girls Generation. It was part of a cross-border deal in which the isolated nuclear-armed North sent hundreds of athletes, cheerleaders and others to the Pyeongchang Winter Games in the South.&nbsp;

At an earlier dinner with senior Seoul officials, Yo Jong said she found the two Koreas still had much in common despite decades of separation.&nbsp;

Before flying south, she said, she had expected &quot;things would be very different and unfamiliar&quot;, according to a statement from Moon&#39;s office.&nbsp;

&quot;But it turned out that there were many things similar and in common,&quot; she went on. &quot;I hope that the day we become one will be brought forward.&quot;

But the rapprochement pushed by the dovish Moon has angered conservatives, who accuse him of being a North Korea sympathiser and undermining the security alliance with the US.&nbsp;

&quot;Having these red communists in the heart of Seoul is an utter humilation!&quot; one shouted near the venue as dozens of others waved banners condemning both Moon and Kim Jong Un.&nbsp;

&quot;We are against the ugly political Olympics!&quot; read one banner.

Some set a North Korean flag on fire before police intervened, and others chanted &quot;Let&#39;s tear Kim Jong Un to death!&quot; as they ripped up posters bearing his portrait.

The North&#39;s presence has dominated the headlines in the early days of the Olympics, with all eyes turning to Swiss-educated Kim Yo Jong, believed to be 30, who is among her brother&#39;s closest confidantes.

Political divide 
 
Sunday&#39;s 100-minute concert -- the orchestra&#39;s second and final show -- included about 40 songs, among them South Korean pop hits as well as North Korean and other world music.&nbsp;

Seoul&#39;s TV shows and K-pop songs are smuggled across the border with China and known to be popular among many North Koreans despite the risk of severe punishment. &nbsp;

At one point Hyon Song Wol, the leader of the North&#39;s popular Moranbong girlband, took the stage to perform a unification-themed song.

Public interest in the show was huge, with nearly 120,000 people applying for just 1,000 tickets.

Civilian contact is strictly banned between the two Koreas, which have been divided since the 1950-53 Korean War ended with an armistice instead of a peace treaty.

Tensions soared last year as the North staged a series of nuclear and missile tests in violation of UN resolutions, while leader Kim and US President Donald Trump traded colourful insults and threats of war.

Moon has long sought engagement with the North to bring it to the negotiating table, and for months has promoted Pyeongchang as a &quot;peace Olympics&quot;.&nbsp;

But controversy over the North&#39;s participation -- particularly the formation of a unified women&#39;s ice hockey team, seen as unfairly denying Seoul&#39;s own citizens a chance to compete on the Olympic stage -- has hit his approval ratings.

Many older South Koreans on both sides of the political divide harbour a nostalgic longing for some form of reunification -- conservatives through the North&#39;s collapse, liberals through a more amicable arrangement.

But younger South Koreans have spent their adult lives in a culturally vibrant democracy regularly menaced and occasionally attacked by Pyongyang. They have far less interest in unification and fear its social and economic consequences.

A poll last year found almost 50 percent of over-60s believed the two Koreas can be reunified, while just 20.5 percent of those in their 20s agreed.

The show was the final set-piece element of the North Korean delegation's landmark visit, the diplomatic highlight of the Olympics-driven rapprochement between the two halves of the peninsula

South Korean President Moon Jae-in sat next to the powerful sister of the North's leader Kim Jong Un at a concert in Seoul by musicians from Pyongyang, as conservative protesters burned the North's national flag outside Sunday. The show was the final set-piece element of the North Korean delegation's landmark visit, the diplomatic highlight of the Olympics-driven rapprochement between the two halves of the peninsula, and they flew back home afterwards. They have shared kimchi and soju with Moon, sat in the same box at the Olympics opening ceremony and cheered a unified women's ice hockey team together. Kim on Saturday invited Moon to a summit in the North, an offer extended by his sister and special envoy Kim Yo Jong, who made history as the first member of the North's ruling dynasty to visit the South since the Korean War. Moon did not immediately accept the invitation and has said he hopes the "right conditions" will be created so it can go ahead. Pictures showed Yo Jong seated between Moon and the North's ceremonial head of state Kim Yong Nam, who is officially leading the North's delegation, and applauding at Sunday's concert. The show by Pyongyang's Samjiyon Orchestra featured a surprise appearance by Seohyun, of top South Korean K-pop girlband Girls Generation. It was part of a cross-border deal in which the isolated nuclear-armed North sent hundreds of athletes, cheerleaders and others to the Pyeongchang Winter Games in the South. At an earlier dinner with senior Seoul officials, Yo Jong said she found the two Koreas still had much in common despite decades of separation. Before flying south, she said, she had expected "things would be very different and unfamiliar", according to a statement from Moon's office. "But it turned out that there were many things similar and in common," she went on. "I hope that the day we become one will be brought forward." But the rapprochement pushed by the dovish Moon has angered conservatives, who accuse him of being a North Korea sympathiser and undermining the security alliance with the US. "Having these red communists in the heart of Seoul is an utter humilation!" one shouted near the venue as dozens of others waved banners condemning both Moon and Kim Jong Un. "We are against the ugly political Olympics!" read one banner. Some set a North Korean flag on fire before police intervened, and others chanted "Let's tear Kim Jong Un to death!" as they ripped up posters bearing his portrait. The North's presence has dominated the headlines in the early days of the Olympics, with all eyes turning to Swiss-educated Kim Yo Jong, believed to be 30, who is among her brother's closest confidantes. Political divide Sunday's 100-minute concert -- the orchestra's second and final show -- included about 40 songs, among them South Korean pop hits as well as North Korean and other world music. Seoul's TV shows and K-pop songs are smuggled across the border with China and known to be popular among many North Koreans despite the risk of severe punishment. At one point Hyon Song Wol, the leader of the North's popular Moranbong girlband, took the stage to perform a unification-themed song. Public interest in the show was huge, with nearly 120,000 people applying for just 1,000 tickets. Civilian contact is strictly banned between the two Koreas, which have been divided since the 1950-53 Korean War ended with an armistice instead of a peace treaty. Tensions soared last year as the North staged a series of nuclear and missile tests in violation of UN resolutions, while leader Kim and US President Donald Trump traded colourful insults and threats of war. Moon has long sought engagement with the North to bring it to the negotiating table, and for months has promoted Pyeongchang as a "peace Olympics". But controversy over the North's participation -- particularly the formation of a unified women's ice hockey team, seen as unfairly denying Seoul's own citizens a chance to compete on the Olympic stage -- has hit his approval ratings. Many older South Koreans on both sides of the political divide harbour a nostalgic longing for some form of reunification -- conservatives through the North's collapse, liberals through a more amicable arrangement. But younger South Koreans have spent their adult lives in a culturally vibrant democracy regularly menaced and occasionally attacked by Pyongyang. They have far less interest in unification and fear its social and economic consequences. A poll last year found almost 50 percent of over-60s believed the two Koreas can be reunified, while just 20.5 percent of those in their 20s agreed.

South Korea's Moon watches concert with Kim Jong Un's sister

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has invited the South`s President Moon Jae-in for a summit in Pyongyang, Seoul said Saturday.

The invitation, delivered by Kim&#39;s visiting sister Kim Yo Jong, said Kim was willing to meet the South`s leader &quot;at the earliest date possible&quot;, said a spokesman for the presidential Blue House.

An inter-Korean summit would be the third of its kind, after Kim`s father and predecessor Kim Jong Il met the South`s Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun in 2000 and 2007 respectively, both of them in Pyongyang.

After months of silence on whether it would even take part in the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics in the South, which had their opening ceremony Friday, nuclear-armed North Korea has gone on a charm offensive, dispatching athletes, performers and Kim`s sister plus other diplomatic delegates to the South. 
 
Moon met Kim Yo Jong and the North`s ceremonial head of state Kim Yong Nam for talks and lunch at the Blue House on Saturday.&nbsp;

&quot;Special envoy Kim Yo Jong delivered a personal letter&quot; from her brother stating his &quot;wish to improve inter-Korean relations&quot;, said Moon`s spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom.

She verbally conveyed Kim`s invitation to Moon &quot;to visit the North at his most convenient time&quot;, he added.

Moon has long argued for engagement with the North to bring it to the negotiating table over its nuclear ambitions, but did not immediately accept the offer.

Moon called for efforts to &quot;create the right conditions to realise&quot; such a visit, his spokesman said, urging Pyongyang to more actively seek dialogue with the US.

&quot;It is absolutely necessary for the North and the United States to engage in talks at an early date,&quot; he cited Moon as saying.

Washington has long insisted the North must show a willingness to denuclearise before any negotiations -- which Pyongyang says it will never do.

The invitation, delivered by Kim's visiting sister Kim Yo Jong, said Kim was willing to meet the South`s leader 'at the earliest date possible', said a spokesman for the presidential Blue House

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has invited the South`s President Moon Jae-in for a summit in Pyongyang, Seoul said Saturday. The invitation, delivered by Kim's visiting sister Kim Yo Jong, said Kim was willing to meet the South`s leader "at the earliest date possible", said a spokesman for the presidential Blue House. An inter-Korean summit would be the third of its kind, after Kim`s father and predecessor Kim Jong Il met the South`s Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun in 2000 and 2007 respectively, both of them in Pyongyang. After months of silence on whether it would even take part in the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics in the South, which had their opening ceremony Friday, nuclear-armed North Korea has gone on a charm offensive, dispatching athletes, performers and Kim`s sister plus other diplomatic delegates to the South. Moon met Kim Yo Jong and the North`s ceremonial head of state Kim Yong Nam for talks and lunch at the Blue House on Saturday. "Special envoy Kim Yo Jong delivered a personal letter" from her brother stating his "wish to improve inter-Korean relations", said Moon`s spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom. She verbally conveyed Kim`s invitation to Moon "to visit the North at his most convenient time", he added. Moon has long argued for engagement with the North to bring it to the negotiating table over its nuclear ambitions, but did not immediately accept the offer. Moon called for efforts to "create the right conditions to realise" such a visit, his spokesman said, urging Pyongyang to more actively seek dialogue with the US. "It is absolutely necessary for the North and the United States to engage in talks at an early date," he cited Moon as saying. Washington has long insisted the North must show a willingness to denuclearise before any negotiations -- which Pyongyang says it will never do.

Kim Jong Un's sister invites South Korean president to Pyongyang

The ice hockey was one of the key&nbsp;events of 23rd Winter Games as for the first time in history joint Korean team was supposed to appear at Olympics.

The first combined Korean team in Olympic history suffered a resounding 8-0 defeat to Switzerland in women&#39;s ice hockey at the Pyeongchang Winter Games on Saturday.

Watched by a high-level North Korean delegation and South Korean President Moon Jae-in -- and a North Korean cheerleading squad -- the team was no match for the Swiss.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
The cheers from the crowed lighted up the atmosphere at the Women&rsquo;s Ice Hockey Game between Team Corea and Switzerland! ????????코리아 팀의 아이스하키 경기에 펼쳐진 열띤 응원전이 펼쳐졌습니다!응원에 힘입어 멋진 경기를 펼치는 선수들! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%EC%BD%94%EB%A6%AC%EC%95%84?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#코리아</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%ED%99%94%EC%9D%B4%ED%8C%85?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#화이팅</a>!????<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PyeongChang2018?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PyeongChang2018</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/pyeongChang?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#pyeongChang</a> <a href="https://t.co/dcFdYi5qa5">pic.twitter.com/dcFdYi5qa5</a>
&mdash; PyeongChang 2018 (@pyeongchang2018) <a href="https://twitter.com/pyeongchang2018/status/962322626310848517?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 10, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Alina Muller scored four while Phoebe Staenz and Lara Stalder both struck twice to rout the Korean team, who had only played together once before and looked out of their depth.

The Koreas also play Japan and Sweden in Group B. It was the first time the Koreas, who marched together at Friday&#39;s opening ceremony, have competed side-by-side at an Olympics.

&nbsp;

The first combined Korean team in Olympic history suffered a resounding 8-0 defeat to Switzerland in women's ice hockey

The ice hockey was one of the key events of 23rd Winter Games as for the first time in history joint Korean team was supposed to appear at Olympics. The first combined Korean team in Olympic history suffered a resounding 8-0 defeat to Switzerland in women's ice hockey at the Pyeongchang Winter Games on Saturday. Watched by a high-level North Korean delegation and South Korean President Moon Jae-in -- and a North Korean cheerleading squad -- the team was no match for the Swiss. The cheers from the crowed lighted up the atmosphere at the Women’s Ice Hockey Game between Team Corea and Switzerland! ????????코리아 팀의 아이스하키 경기에 펼쳐진 열띤 응원전이 펼쳐졌습니다!응원에 힘입어 멋진 경기를 펼치는 선수들! #코리아 #화이팅!????#PyeongChang2018 #pyeongChang pic.twitter.com/dcFdYi5qa5 — PyeongChang 2018 (@pyeongchang2018) February 10, 2018 × Alina Muller scored four while Phoebe Staenz and Lara Stalder both struck twice to rout the Korean team, who had only played together once before and looked out of their depth. The Koreas also play Japan and Sweden in Group B. It was the first time the Koreas, who marched together at Friday's opening ceremony, have competed side-by-side at an Olympics.

Switzerland trounces unified Korean ice hockey team

Pyeongchang Winter Olympics organisers said on Saturday that 11 new cases of a virus that causes vomiting and diarrhoea had been confirmed at the Games, bringing the total to 139.

The number of new norovirus cases is a steep drop-off from the 42 new cases confirmed on Thursday and 54 a day earlier.

The virus had broken out in the leadup to Friday`s opening ceremony in Pyeongchang and led to some 1,200 security staff being quarantined. Organisers had to call in military personnel to replace them. 
 
As yet, no athletes have been confirmed to have contracted the highly contagious virus. An outbreak at last year`s World Athletics Championship in London forced competitors from several countries to miss events.

POCOG said several agencies were cooperating to stifle the outbreak, with water quality being tested and inspections taking place at venues, restaurants, hotels and worker accommodation.

The number of new norovirus cases is a steep drop-off from the 42 new cases confirmed on Thursday and 54 a day earlier

Pyeongchang Winter Olympics organisers said on Saturday that 11 new cases of a virus that causes vomiting and diarrhoea had been confirmed at the Games, bringing the total to 139. The number of new norovirus cases is a steep drop-off from the 42 new cases confirmed on Thursday and 54 a day earlier. The virus had broken out in the leadup to Friday`s opening ceremony in Pyeongchang and led to some 1,200 security staff being quarantined. Organisers had to call in military personnel to replace them. As yet, no athletes have been confirmed to have contracted the highly contagious virus. An outbreak at last year`s World Athletics Championship in London forced competitors from several countries to miss events. POCOG said several agencies were cooperating to stifle the outbreak, with water quality being tested and inspections taking place at venues, restaurants, hotels and worker accommodation.

Olympics: Norovirus outbreak tapers off as Games get underway

When North Korea&rsquo;s Samjiyon Band took to the stage on the first night of the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, the 800-strong audience may have expected the orchestra to perform a repertoire designed to extol the virtues of life in the People&rsquo;s Republic. Perhaps they would start with No Motherland Without You, a well-known standard about the country&rsquo;s former leader, Kim Jong-il? Or something about the current incumbent: He&rsquo;s Our Comrade Kim Jong-un being the obvious choice.

But instead of musical agitprop, the 140-member band &ndash; comprising an orchestra and a troupe of highly choreographed dancers &ndash; kicked off their 90-minute performance with the North Korean pop song Glad To Meet You &ndash; a catchy tune familiar to many in the South. From there it was a mix of traditional Korean tunes, some 1980s South Korean pop, and a bit of Western classical music thrown in for good measure.

The Samjiyon Band is a well-known fixture on North Korea&rsquo;s cultural scene. It is part of the larger Mansudae Art Troupe, formed in 1969, and is reputed to be a particular favourite of Kim Jong-un.

The group is not a conventional symphony orchestra, notwithstanding that it uses many of the same forces. Familiar string, wind and brass instruments abound, but they are frequently combined with synthesizers, drum kits, saxophones and electric guitars, to produce a &ldquo;classical crossover&rdquo; sound that mixes classical music, arrangements of traditional Korean songs and, unsurprisingly, lashings of patriotic propaganda music.

Korean girl power?

The YouTube videos uploaded by North Korean state media, the matching and fashionable costumes, the saccharine musical arrangements, the garish colours and soft-focus camerawork, all serve to underpin a distinctively middle-of-the-road musical orientation, of the kind that James Last or Bert Kaempfert might have produced had they been secretly smuggled to North Korea in the 1970s.

The orchestra frequently supports small groups of female soloists, who display particular technical competence alongside their slightly revealing &ndash; by North Korean standards &ndash; costumes.

The stage layout of the orchestra further emphasises the display of femininity for the male gaze. Whereas symphony orchestras generally use a loosely semi-circular stage layout with the conductor at the centre, the Samjiyon Band puts the string players &ndash; comprised mainly of young woman, attractively dressed &ndash; in a line at the front, with the winds and brass &ndash; largely comprised of men &ndash; in lines behind them.

The gendering of the musical instruments is stark, even more so than in Euro-American contexts, and the stage layout deliberately forefronts the women, perhaps particularly for the one male gaze it must especially satisfy, that of Kim Jon-un. And for all the female emancipation seemingly on display, the conductor of the orchestra is, as ever, male.

It is easy to mock this obvious display of patriarchal control over collections of female bodies for musical ends, but similar cases are easily found in the West. For example, groups of female musicians were widespread in the vaudeville and dance band era.

Groups such as The Ingenues, an all-girl band based in Chicago in the 1920s and 1930s, were similarly skilled multi-instrumentalists whose curiosity value arose in part from their femininity. And like the Samjiyon Band, notwithstanding the prominence of the female performers, it was the men behind the scenes who were calling the shots, particularly their agent and manager, William Morris.

There are also more contemporary resonances. One YouTube clip of the Samjiyon Band shows several of the soloists performing on electric string instruments, thus replicating the same mix of feminine allure, classical/popular music crossover and modern music technology as today&rsquo;s more familiar Bond Quartet.

<figure><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ByJpWubSsCI?wmode=transparent&amp;start=0" width="440"></iframe></figure>

There are also many differences with these comparisons &ndash; the main one being that, while groups such as The Ingenues and Bond Quartet are undoubtedly musically skilled, they are also at the service of a music industry whose primary motivation is to increase the profits for its corporate shareholders. Musical quality may be important, but only inasmuch as it can be used to underpin financial success.

Sell-out performance

The Samjiyon Band is certainly popular. The online lottery to buy tickets for its South Korean concerts was heavily oversubscribed. And their popularity with North Korea&rsquo;s ruling elite is especially evident &ndash; another resonance with symphony orchestras in the West. But the group&rsquo;s principal function is surely to portray the ideological glories of the North Korean state.

This seems a particular aspect of totalitarian regimes. Following the demise of the Berlin Wall and the Iron Curtain, we perhaps forget how widespread this state manipulation of both classical and folk music used to be among similar regimes in Eastern Europe. The longstanding Soviet support for the USSR State Symphony Orchestra &ndash; now officially the State Academic Symphony Orchestra &ldquo;Evgeny Svetlanov&rdquo; &ndash; provides one well-known example. The manipulation for political ends of Romanian folk music ensembles by the dictator Nicolae Ceausescu provides another. There are many more.

Music, sex and politics: a heady brew. But not one that is unique to North Korea, nor to the personality cult surrounding Kim Jong-un.

&nbsp;

This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" rel="nofollow" target="blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/glad-to-meet-you-north-koreas-pop-orchestra-warms-hearts-in-the-south-91499" rel="nofollow" target="blank">original article</a>.

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;

North Korea’s Samjiyon Band gave a surprisingly different kind of performance at the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympic.

When North Korea’s Samjiyon Band took to the stage on the first night of the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, the 800-strong audience may have expected the orchestra to perform a repertoire designed to extol the virtues of life in the People’s Republic. Perhaps they would start with No Motherland Without You, a well-known standard about the country’s former leader, Kim Jong-il? Or something about the current incumbent: He’s Our Comrade Kim Jong-un being the obvious choice. But instead of musical agitprop, the 140-member band – comprising an orchestra and a troupe of highly choreographed dancers – kicked off their 90-minute performance with the North Korean pop song Glad To Meet You – a catchy tune familiar to many in the South. From there it was a mix of traditional Korean tunes, some 1980s South Korean pop, and a bit of Western classical music thrown in for good measure. The Samjiyon Band is a well-known fixture on North Korea’s cultural scene. It is part of the larger Mansudae Art Troupe, formed in 1969, and is reputed to be a particular favourite of Kim Jong-un. The group is not a conventional symphony orchestra, notwithstanding that it uses many of the same forces. Familiar string, wind and brass instruments abound, but they are frequently combined with synthesizers, drum kits, saxophones and electric guitars, to produce a “classical crossover” sound that mixes classical music, arrangements of traditional Korean songs and, unsurprisingly, lashings of patriotic propaganda music. Korean girl power? The YouTube videos uploaded by North Korean state media, the matching and fashionable costumes, the saccharine musical arrangements, the garish colours and soft-focus camerawork, all serve to underpin a distinctively middle-of-the-road musical orientation, of the kind that James Last or Bert Kaempfert might have produced had they been secretly smuggled to North Korea in the 1970s. The orchestra frequently supports small groups of female soloists, who display particular technical competence alongside their slightly revealing – by North Korean standards – costumes. The stage layout of the orchestra further emphasises the display of femininity for the male gaze. Whereas symphony orchestras generally use a loosely semi-circular stage layout with the conductor at the centre, the Samjiyon Band puts the string players – comprised mainly of young woman, attractively dressed – in a line at the front, with the winds and brass – largely comprised of men – in lines behind them. The gendering of the musical instruments is stark, even more so than in Euro-American contexts, and the stage layout deliberately forefronts the women, perhaps particularly for the one male gaze it must especially satisfy, that of Kim Jon-un. And for all the female emancipation seemingly on display, the conductor of the orchestra is, as ever, male. It is easy to mock this obvious display of patriarchal control over collections of female bodies for musical ends, but similar cases are easily found in the West. For example, groups of female musicians were widespread in the vaudeville and dance band era. Groups such as The Ingenues, an all-girl band based in Chicago in the 1920s and 1930s, were similarly skilled multi-instrumentalists whose curiosity value arose in part from their femininity. And like the Samjiyon Band, notwithstanding the prominence of the female performers, it was the men behind the scenes who were calling the shots, particularly their agent and manager, William Morris. There are also more contemporary resonances. One YouTube clip of the Samjiyon Band shows several of the soloists performing on electric string instruments, thus replicating the same mix of feminine allure, classical/popular music crossover and modern music technology as today’s more familiar Bond Quartet. There are also many differences with these comparisons – the main one being that, while groups such as The Ingenues and Bond Quartet are undoubtedly musically skilled, they are also at the service of a music industry whose primary motivation is to increase the profits for its corporate shareholders. Musical quality may be important, but only inasmuch as it can be used to underpin financial success. Sell-out performance The Samjiyon Band is certainly popular. The online lottery to buy tickets for its South Korean concerts was heavily oversubscribed. And their popularity with North Korea’s ruling elite is especially evident – another resonance with symphony orchestras in the West. But the group’s principal function is surely to portray the ideological glories of the North Korean state. This seems a particular aspect of totalitarian regimes. Following the demise of the Berlin Wall and the Iron Curtain, we perhaps forget how widespread this state manipulation of both classical and folk music used to be among similar regimes in Eastern Europe. The longstanding Soviet support for the USSR State Symphony Orchestra – now officially the State Academic Symphony Orchestra “Evgeny Svetlanov” – provides one well-known example. The manipulation for political ends of Romanian folk music ensembles by the dictator Nicolae Ceausescu provides another. There are many more. Music, sex and politics: a heady brew. But not one that is unique to North Korea, nor to the personality cult surrounding Kim Jong-un. This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Music, sex and politics at Winter Olympics

The sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un arrived in South Korea on Friday, landing at Incheon International Airport in a private jet with the rest of her entourage of senior officials, including the North`s nominal head of state Kim Yong Nam.

Kim Yo Jong is the first of North Korea&#39;s ruling family to visit the South, while Kim Yong Nam is the most senior North Korean official to make a cross-border trip.

The sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un arrived in South Korea on Friday

The sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un arrived in South Korea on Friday, landing at Incheon International Airport in a private jet with the rest of her entourage of senior officials, including the North`s nominal head of state Kim Yong Nam. Kim Yo Jong is the first of North Korea's ruling family to visit the South, while Kim Yong Nam is the most senior North Korean official to make a cross-border trip.

Watch: North Korean leader Kim's sister arrives in South Korea

Google celebrates winter games as the opening ceremony has started.

Winter Olympics is already underway,&nbsp;PyeongChang 2018 will host the XXIII Olympic Winter Games. It is a major international multi-sport event which is scheduled to take place from February 9 to 25.

The 23rd Winter Olympics will feature 102 events in 15 sports and athletes from all over the world.

The organisers of the upcoming Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic games had already warned spectators that they will face sub-zero temperatures during the tournament.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false"><img alt="" draggable="false" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/google%201-20180209061926.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
Google celebrates the 23rd Winter Olympics. (Others)
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="javascript:void(0)" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

This year&#39;s Winter Olympic games may set a new record for being the coldest since the 1994 Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway.

The opening and closing ceremonies will be held at the roofless Olympic Stadium, a pentagonal arena that can accommodate around 40,000 people.

Freezing weather at the Winter Olympics may force some athletes and staff to pull out of Friday&#39;s opening ceremony as Pyeongchang shivers in temperatures plunging to minus 20 degrees Celsius.

&nbsp;

The 23rd Winter Olympics will feature 102 events in 15 sports and athletes from all over the world

Google celebrates winter games as the opening ceremony has started. Winter Olympics is already underway, PyeongChang 2018 will host the XXIII Olympic Winter Games. It is a major international multi-sport event which is scheduled to take place from February 9 to 25. The 23rd Winter Olympics will feature 102 events in 15 sports and athletes from all over the world. The organisers of the upcoming Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic games had already warned spectators that they will face sub-zero temperatures during the tournament. Google celebrates the 23rd Winter Olympics. (Others) × This year's Winter Olympic games may set a new record for being the coldest since the 1994 Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway. The opening and closing ceremonies will be held at the roofless Olympic Stadium, a pentagonal arena that can accommodate around 40,000 people. Freezing weather at the Winter Olympics may force some athletes and staff to pull out of Friday's opening ceremony as Pyeongchang shivers in temperatures plunging to minus 20 degrees Celsius.

Google celebrates 23rd Winter Olympics

North Korean athletes at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics refused to accept smartphones offered on condition they returned them after the Games, news reports said, as the IOC backed down over a similar demand for Iranians.

The IOC is providing Galaxy Note 8 devices from Olympic sponsor Samsung to all athletes and officials at the Games, loaded with essential logistical and competition information.

Organisers initially said the North Koreans and Iranians would be denied the devices due to UN sanctions on their countries.

Then the IOC said they would be provided for the Games, but the two countries&#39; representatives would be asked to return them afterwards rather than keep them.

It was not clear how the IOC would ensure compliance with the request.

But Yonhap news agency said the North Koreans at the Games had refused the phones. No reason was given, but Internet access is strictly limited in the North.

Pyongyang has sent 22 athletes to the Olympics, along with several officials.

An IOC spokesman was unable to confirm the reports when contacted by AFP.

The ban on Iranians keeping the phones had provoked a furious reaction in Teheran, with authorities blaming the manufacturer for the situation.

Iran&#39;s foreign ministry summoned South Korea&#39;s ambassador Kim Seung-ho to lodge a &quot;strong protest&quot; over what it called Samsung&#39;s &quot;dishonest conduct that is contrary to the spirit of the Olympic Games&quot;.

The ambassador was warned that &quot;if Samsung does not make its excuses... this affair will have strong repercussions on commercial relations between the Samsung Group and the Islamic Republic of Iran&quot;.

Samsung, the world&#39;s biggest smartphone and memory chip manufacturer, is a crucial part of South Korea&#39;s economy, with the group&#39;s turnover equivalent to a fifth of the national GDP.

The IOC later backed down.

&quot;Regarding Iran, we can confirm that all participants will be able to keep the phones,&quot; it said in a statement late Thursday.

&quot;Regarding North Korea, all participants are requested not to take the phones back to their home country but to only use them during their stay in Pyeongchang,&quot; it added.

The Galaxy Note 8 retails for around 1,000,000 South Korean won ($920) and so could fall foul of UN measures banning supplies of luxury goods to the North.

A Samsung spokeswoman stressed the electronics giant had nothing to do with the distribution of the handsets and all decisions were by the IOC.

The IOC is providing Galaxy Note 8 devices from Olympic sponsor Samsung to all athletes and officials at the Games, loaded with essential logistical and competition information

North Korean athletes at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics refused to accept smartphones offered on condition they returned them after the Games, news reports said, as the IOC backed down over a similar demand for Iranians. The IOC is providing Galaxy Note 8 devices from Olympic sponsor Samsung to all athletes and officials at the Games, loaded with essential logistical and competition information. Organisers initially said the North Koreans and Iranians would be denied the devices due to UN sanctions on their countries. Then the IOC said they would be provided for the Games, but the two countries' representatives would be asked to return them afterwards rather than keep them. It was not clear how the IOC would ensure compliance with the request. But Yonhap news agency said the North Koreans at the Games had refused the phones. No reason was given, but Internet access is strictly limited in the North. Pyongyang has sent 22 athletes to the Olympics, along with several officials. An IOC spokesman was unable to confirm the reports when contacted by AFP. The ban on Iranians keeping the phones had provoked a furious reaction in Teheran, with authorities blaming the manufacturer for the situation. Iran's foreign ministry summoned South Korea's ambassador Kim Seung-ho to lodge a "strong protest" over what it called Samsung's "dishonest conduct that is contrary to the spirit of the Olympic Games". The ambassador was warned that "if Samsung does not make its excuses... this affair will have strong repercussions on commercial relations between the Samsung Group and the Islamic Republic of Iran". Samsung, the world's biggest smartphone and memory chip manufacturer, is a crucial part of South Korea's economy, with the group's turnover equivalent to a fifth of the national GDP. The IOC later backed down. "Regarding Iran, we can confirm that all participants will be able to keep the phones," it said in a statement late Thursday. "Regarding North Korea, all participants are requested not to take the phones back to their home country but to only use them during their stay in Pyeongchang," it added. The Galaxy Note 8 retails for around 1,000,000 South Korean won ($920) and so could fall foul of UN measures banning supplies of luxury goods to the North. A Samsung spokeswoman stressed the electronics giant had nothing to do with the distribution of the handsets and all decisions were by the IOC.

North Koreans decline Olympic phones: reports

In December, the IOC had suspended Russia over a state-sponsored doping conspiracy culminating in its hosting of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.

The CAS drew criticism last week when it lifted life Olympic bans imposed on 28 Russians. But when 15 of them applied to take part in Pyeongchang, the IOC refused to give them invitations.

Now, forty-seven Russian athletes and staff implicated in doping have lost a last-minute court bid to take part in the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, the Court of Arbitration for Sport said on Friday.

&quot;The applications filed by Russian athletes and coaches have been dismissed,&quot; CAS said in a statement, issued just hours before the Games&#39; opening ceremony.

Russia&#39;s team has been suspended from the Olympics over a systemic doping scandal, but the International Olympic Committee has allowed a group of Russians considered as clean athletes to take part.

Earlier, a&nbsp;group of 13 Russians lost a last-ditch bid to beat their country&#39;s doping ban.

&nbsp;

47 Russian athletes and staff implicated in doping have lost a last-minute court bid to take part in the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, the Court of Arbitration for Sport said on Friday

In December, the IOC had suspended Russia over a state-sponsored doping conspiracy culminating in its hosting of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. The CAS drew criticism last week when it lifted life Olympic bans imposed on 28 Russians. But when 15 of them applied to take part in Pyeongchang, the IOC refused to give them invitations. Now, forty-seven Russian athletes and staff implicated in doping have lost a last-minute court bid to take part in the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, the Court of Arbitration for Sport said on Friday. "The applications filed by Russian athletes and coaches have been dismissed," CAS said in a statement, issued just hours before the Games' opening ceremony. Russia's team has been suspended from the Olympics over a systemic doping scandal, but the International Olympic Committee has allowed a group of Russians considered as clean athletes to take part. Earlier, a group of 13 Russians lost a last-ditch bid to beat their country's doping ban.

47 Russians lose late court bid to compete at Olympics

North Korea staged a military parade in Pyongyang Thursday to mark the 70th anniversary of its armed forces, putting its intercontinental ballistic missiles on show just a day before the Winter Olympics open in the South.

The nuclear-armed North is on an Olympics-linked charm offensive -- sending a troupe of performers, hundreds of female cheerleaders, and the sister of leader Kim Jong Un to South Korea.

But regiments of soldiers goose-stepped in formation through Kim Il Sung Square on Thursday, followed by trucks, artillery, tanks and finally four giant Hwasong-15 ICBMs -- as well as a band forming the Korean word for &quot;Victory&quot;.

Unlike the North`s last parade in April 2017 state television did not show the event live, instead airing it hours later.

Fireworks went off as leader Kim Jong Un took his place on the rostrum to watch the display, along with his wife Ri Sol Ju and the ceremonial head of state Kim Yong Nam -- who will head Pyongyang`s delegation to the Olympics on Friday.

&quot;We ... have become capable of showcasing our stature as a world-class military power to the world,&quot; said Kim, wearing a long black coat and black fedora.

The military should remain on high alert to ensure that invaders could not violate the North`s sovereignty &quot;even by 0.001mm&quot;, he said.

&quot;Long live!&quot; cried the assembled troops, their breath condensing in the subzero temperatures and some of them in tears at the sight of the leader.

Analysts say that with the dual approach, the North is looking to normalise its status as a &quot;de facto nuclear state&quot;, and could be trying to weaken sanctions against it or drive a wedge between the South and its ally the US.

North Korea is under multiple sets of UN Security Council sanctions over its banned nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes, which have seen it develop rockets capable of reaching the US mainland.

Pyongyang last month announced it was changing the date of its military commemoration from April 25 to February 8 -- the day before the Games` opening ceremony in Pyeongchang, just 80 kilometres (50 miles) south of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) that divides the peninsula.&nbsp;

North Korea normally invites hundreds of foreign journalists to show off the spectacle to the world but did not do so this time, possibly an indication that it wanted to control how the display is seen -- which would be in keeping with the absence of live coverage.

&quot;It looks like North Korea had potential reaction from the international community in mind and toned down the scale and message of the event a lot,&quot; said Lim Eul-Chul, a North Korean studies professor at Kyungnam University.The North`s high-level delegation for the Olympics is being led by its ceremonial head of state Kim Yong Nam, the highest-level official ever to visit the South, and also includes Kim Jong Un`s sister Kim Yo Jong -- an increasingly powerful and influential figure.

They are due in the South Friday and Seoul`s presidential Blue House said they will have lunch with President Moon Jae-in the following day.

US Vice President Mike Pence arrived in the South later Thursday and is also scheduled to attend the opening ceremony in Pyeongchang on Friday.

That could put him in the same room as Kim Yong Nam, raising the prospect of senior figures from the two sides meeting after a year in which their leaders traded personal insults and threats of war.

Senior Pyongyang foreign ministry official Cho Yong Sam said the North had &quot;no intention&quot; of meeting US authorities during the trip.

But his comments did not rule out a meeting -- and nor has Pence, who lambasted the North Thursday but added: &quot;There may be a possibility for any kind of an encounter with North Koreans,&quot; whether informal or a meeting.

&quot;We`ll have to wait and see exactly how that unfolds.&quot;The Winter Olympics have triggered a rapid rapprochement on the peninsula, although analysts warn that warmer relations may not last long beyond the Games.

Tensions soared last year as the North carried out multiple weapons tests, including the Hwasong-15 capable of reaching the US mainland, and by far its most powerful nuclear test to date.

For months Pyongyang ignored Seoul`s entreaties to take part in a &quot;peace Olympics&quot; until Kim indicated his willingness to do so in his New Year speech.

That set off a rapid series of meetings which saw the two Koreas agree to march together at the opening ceremony and form a unified women`s ice hockey team, their first for 27 years.

But critics in the South say Seoul has made too many concessions to Pyongyang, and demonstrators protested the arrival of the art troupe earlier this week.

US charge d`affaires to Seoul Marc Knapper dismissed concerns about a Northern charm offensive towards the South.

&quot;The more North Koreans that can come here and see how successful the South has been the better,&quot; he told reporters.

&quot;It sends a strong message about what happens when leaders make the right choices about how their society will develop.&quot;

US Vice President Mike Pence arrived in the South later Thursday and is also scheduled to attend the opening ceremony in Pyeongchang on Friday

North Korea staged a military parade in Pyongyang Thursday to mark the 70th anniversary of its armed forces, putting its intercontinental ballistic missiles on show just a day before the Winter Olympics open in the South. The nuclear-armed North is on an Olympics-linked charm offensive -- sending a troupe of performers, hundreds of female cheerleaders, and the sister of leader Kim Jong Un to South Korea. But regiments of soldiers goose-stepped in formation through Kim Il Sung Square on Thursday, followed by trucks, artillery, tanks and finally four giant Hwasong-15 ICBMs -- as well as a band forming the Korean word for "Victory". Unlike the North`s last parade in April 2017 state television did not show the event live, instead airing it hours later. Fireworks went off as leader Kim Jong Un took his place on the rostrum to watch the display, along with his wife Ri Sol Ju and the ceremonial head of state Kim Yong Nam -- who will head Pyongyang`s delegation to the Olympics on Friday. "We ... have become capable of showcasing our stature as a world-class military power to the world," said Kim, wearing a long black coat and black fedora. The military should remain on high alert to ensure that invaders could not violate the North`s sovereignty "even by 0.001mm", he said. "Long live!" cried the assembled troops, their breath condensing in the subzero temperatures and some of them in tears at the sight of the leader. Analysts say that with the dual approach, the North is looking to normalise its status as a "de facto nuclear state", and could be trying to weaken sanctions against it or drive a wedge between the South and its ally the US. North Korea is under multiple sets of UN Security Council sanctions over its banned nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes, which have seen it develop rockets capable of reaching the US mainland. Pyongyang last month announced it was changing the date of its military commemoration from April 25 to February 8 -- the day before the Games` opening ceremony in Pyeongchang, just 80 kilometres (50 miles) south of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) that divides the peninsula. North Korea normally invites hundreds of foreign journalists to show off the spectacle to the world but did not do so this time, possibly an indication that it wanted to control how the display is seen -- which would be in keeping with the absence of live coverage. "It looks like North Korea had potential reaction from the international community in mind and toned down the scale and message of the event a lot," said Lim Eul-Chul, a North Korean studies professor at Kyungnam University.The North`s high-level delegation for the Olympics is being led by its ceremonial head of state Kim Yong Nam, the highest-level official ever to visit the South, and also includes Kim Jong Un`s sister Kim Yo Jong -- an increasingly powerful and influential figure. They are due in the South Friday and Seoul`s presidential Blue House said they will have lunch with President Moon Jae-in the following day. US Vice President Mike Pence arrived in the South later Thursday and is also scheduled to attend the opening ceremony in Pyeongchang on Friday. That could put him in the same room as Kim Yong Nam, raising the prospect of senior figures from the two sides meeting after a year in which their leaders traded personal insults and threats of war. Senior Pyongyang foreign ministry official Cho Yong Sam said the North had "no intention" of meeting US authorities during the trip. But his comments did not rule out a meeting -- and nor has Pence, who lambasted the North Thursday but added: "There may be a possibility for any kind of an encounter with North Koreans," whether informal or a meeting. "We`ll have to wait and see exactly how that unfolds."The Winter Olympics have triggered a rapid rapprochement on the peninsula, although analysts warn that warmer relations may not last long beyond the Games. Tensions soared last year as the North carried out multiple weapons tests, including the Hwasong-15 capable of reaching the US mainland, and by far its most powerful nuclear test to date. For months Pyongyang ignored Seoul`s entreaties to take part in a "peace Olympics" until Kim indicated his willingness to do so in his New Year speech. That set off a rapid series of meetings which saw the two Koreas agree to march together at the opening ceremony and form a unified women`s ice hockey team, their first for 27 years. But critics in the South say Seoul has made too many concessions to Pyongyang, and demonstrators protested the arrival of the art troupe earlier this week. US charge d`affaires to Seoul Marc Knapper dismissed concerns about a Northern charm offensive towards the South. "The more North Koreans that can come here and see how successful the South has been the better," he told reporters. "It sends a strong message about what happens when leaders make the right choices about how their society will develop."

North Korea holds military parade on eve of Olympics

Novelist and investigative journalist Suki Kim, who went undercover in North Korea in 2011 posing as a missionary and an English teacher, says when one talks of art and literature in that country, one has to step back to see if that is even possible.

When all universities in North Korea were shut down for an entire year in 2011, the students were sent to construction fields except for 270 students at Pyongyang University of Science and Technology (PUST), a brand-new university staffed only by foreigners for sons of North Korea&#39;s ruling class.

Thrice a day, the students had to sing praises to Kim Jong-il and North Korea: &quot;Without you, there is no motherland. Without you, there is no us.&quot;

This went on to become the title of Suki&#39;s book. &quot;Without You, There Is No Us: My Time with the Sons of North Korea&#39;s Elite&quot; is Suki&#39;s account of teaching English during the last six months of Kim Jong-il&#39;s reign.

Suki describes this university as a walled compound where portraits of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il look on impassively from the walls of every room, and where she accepted a job teaching English.

Over the next six months, she taught them under the watchful eye of the regime.

&quot;But strangely, there were no inquisitiveness on the part of the students. They were not connected to the outside world and did not have the curiosity too. Actually, they were not allowed to nurture any such curiosity,&quot; Suki said during the recently-concluded Jaipur Literature Festival.

Suki scribbled notes whenever she could and later kept the written matter on USB sticks. Since 2002, she has travelled to North Korea, witnessing both Kim Jong-il&#39;s 60th Birthday celebrations as well as his death at age 69 in 2011.

She says no freedom of expression exists in North Korea.

&quot;It is all under surveillance. How can one talk of art and literature in North Korea when one is allowed only to write and speak about the top leader. One has to step back to see if that (arts and literature) is even possible,&quot; she says. 
According to Suki, it is important to examine and verify news and information related to North Korea.

She was responding to a question related to the book &quot;The Accusation: Forbidden Stories from Inside North Korea&quot;, written in 2014 by an anonymous writer from that country and translated by Deborah Smith.

In the collection, the dissident known only by the pseudonym Bandi paints a powerful and unflinching portrait of life under the rule of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il.

&quot;I am not sure if one can give a proof that a real North Korean wrote that book. Not every bit of information related to North Korea can be considered genuine without proper verification,&quot; Suki says.

Born and raised in Seoul, Suki lives in New York. Her first novel, &quot;The Interpreter&quot;, was a finalist for a PEN Hemingway Prize.

Suki, who came to the Jaipur Literature Festival for the first time, says she loves novels of mother-daughter duo of Anita and Kiran Desai and Manil Suri.

When all universities in North Korea were shut down for an entire year in 2011, the students were sent to construction fields except for 270 students at Pyongyang University of Science and Technology. Thrice a day, the students had to sing praises to Kim Jong-il and North Korea

Novelist and investigative journalist Suki Kim, who went undercover in North Korea in 2011 posing as a missionary and an English teacher, says when one talks of art and literature in that country, one has to step back to see if that is even possible. When all universities in North Korea were shut down for an entire year in 2011, the students were sent to construction fields except for 270 students at Pyongyang University of Science and Technology (PUST), a brand-new university staffed only by foreigners for sons of North Korea's ruling class. Thrice a day, the students had to sing praises to Kim Jong-il and North Korea: "Without you, there is no motherland. Without you, there is no us." This went on to become the title of Suki's book. "Without You, There Is No Us: My Time with the Sons of North Korea's Elite" is Suki's account of teaching English during the last six months of Kim Jong-il's reign. Suki describes this university as a walled compound where portraits of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il look on impassively from the walls of every room, and where she accepted a job teaching English. Over the next six months, she taught them under the watchful eye of the regime. "But strangely, there were no inquisitiveness on the part of the students. They were not connected to the outside world and did not have the curiosity too. Actually, they were not allowed to nurture any such curiosity," Suki said during the recently-concluded Jaipur Literature Festival. Suki scribbled notes whenever she could and later kept the written matter on USB sticks. Since 2002, she has travelled to North Korea, witnessing both Kim Jong-il's 60th Birthday celebrations as well as his death at age 69 in 2011. She says no freedom of expression exists in North Korea. "It is all under surveillance. How can one talk of art and literature in North Korea when one is allowed only to write and speak about the top leader. One has to step back to see if that (arts and literature) is even possible," she says. According to Suki, it is important to examine and verify news and information related to North Korea. She was responding to a question related to the book "The Accusation: Forbidden Stories from Inside North Korea", written in 2014 by an anonymous writer from that country and translated by Deborah Smith. In the collection, the dissident known only by the pseudonym Bandi paints a powerful and unflinching portrait of life under the rule of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il. "I am not sure if one can give a proof that a real North Korean wrote that book. Not every bit of information related to North Korea can be considered genuine without proper verification," Suki says. Born and raised in Seoul, Suki lives in New York. Her first novel, "The Interpreter", was a finalist for a PEN Hemingway Prize. Suki, who came to the Jaipur Literature Festival for the first time, says she loves novels of mother-daughter duo of Anita and Kiran Desai and Manil Suri.

Suki Kim: The novelist who went undercover in North Korea

North Korea has no intention of meeting US&nbsp;officials during the Winter Olympics that start in South Korea on Friday, state media reported, dampening hopes the Games will help resolve a tense standoff over the North`s nuclear weapons programme.

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, who described North Korea as the world`s most tyrannical regime on Wednesday, flies into South Korea on Thursday ahead of the opening ceremony in the mountain resort of Pyeongchang, just 80 km (50 miles) from the heavily armed border with the reclusive North.&nbsp;

The ceremony will also be attended by a senior delegation of North Korean officials, including the younger sister of leader Kim Jong Un and the North`s nominal head of state, Kim Yong Nam.

The sister, Kim Yo Jong, and other members of her entourage will travel by private jet to Seoul`s Incheon International Airport on Friday afternoon, North Korea informed the South on Thursday.

&quot;We have never begged for dialogue with the U.S. nor in the future, too,&quot; the North`s KCNA news agency reported, citing Jo Yong Sam, director-general of the North American department of North Korea`s foreign ministry.

&quot;Explicitly speaking, we have no intention to meet with the U.S. side during the stay in South Korea ... Our delegation`s visit to South Korea is only to take part in the Olympics and hail its successful holding.&quot;

Pence said the United States had not requested talks with North Korean officials but left open the possibility of some contact.

&quot;But if I have any contact with them, in any context, over the next two days, my message will be the same as it was here today: North Korea needs to, once and for all, abandon its nuclear and ballistic missile ambition,&quot; Pence told reporters as he left Japan.&nbsp;

South Korea wants to use the Olympics to re-engage with North Korea and open the way for talks to resolve one of the world`s most dangerous crises, in which U.S. President Donald Trump and Pyongyang have swapped bellicose threats of nuclear war.

Pence had said after meeting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo on Wednesday that Washington would soon unveil &quot;the toughest and most aggressive round of economic sanctions on North Korea ever&quot;.

In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told reporters that China saw the Olympics as a first step towards &quot;everyday, uninterrupted&quot; dialogue.

All sides, not just the two Koreas, needed to work hard and dialogue between the United States and North Korea should be expanded for this to happen, Wang said.

&quot;You can&rsquo;t have it that one person opens the door and another closes it,&quot; he said.&nbsp;

Military parade

North Korea marked the founding anniversary of its army with a large military parade in Pyongyang on Thursday, a government official told Reuters, having last month changed the date of the celebration to the eve of the Olympics.

The official asked not to be identified because of the sensitivity of the issue.

Domestic media reports said the parade was smaller than those of previous years.

Pence will meet South Korean President Moon Jae-in in Seoul on Thursday. On Friday, before he attends the Olympic opening ceremony, he will visit a memorial for 46 South Korean sailors killed in 2010 in the sinking of a warship that Seoul blamed on a North Korean torpedo attack.

Pence is taking the father of Otto Warmbier, an American student who died last year after being imprisoned in North Korea for 17 months.

Kim Yo Jong, the 28-year-old sister of the North Korean leader, will be sitting in the same stadium as VIP guests along with ceremonial head of state Kim Yong Nam.

She will be the first member of the Kim family to cross the border into the South. Kim Yo Jong is a propaganda official and was blacklisted last year by the U.S. Treasury Department over alleged human rights abuses and censorship.

Japan`s Abe, whose nation has been within range of North Korean missiles for decades, will also attend the ceremony, adding to seating complications for the hosts.

South Korea asked the United Nations on Wednesday for an exemption to allow a U.N.-sanctioned North Korean official, Choe Hwi, to attend the opening ceremony with Kim Yo Jong.

The Unification Ministry in Seoul said no decision had been made yet on Choe and Pyongyang had not mentioned any change in their plans to send him.

The U.N. Security Council, which has slapped a series of sanctions on North Korea for its weapons programmes, imposed a travel ban and asset freeze Choe last year when he was vice director of the Workers` Party of Korea Propaganda and Agitation Department.

A group of 280 North Koreans arrived in South Korea on Wednesday, including a 229-member cheer squad, taekwondo performers, journalists and the sports minister.

Preliminary competition at the Games began on Thursday, with events including curling and ski jumping.

Organisers have already been battling some challenges, including a stomach virus that has hit dozens of staff and a fire near the Olympic media village on Thursday that produced thick black smoke but was quickly extinguished.

The ceremony will also be attended by a senior delegation of North Korean officials, including the younger sister of leader Kim Jong Un and the North`s nominal head of state, Kim Yong Nam.

North Korea has no intention of meeting US officials during the Winter Olympics that start in South Korea on Friday, state media reported, dampening hopes the Games will help resolve a tense standoff over the North`s nuclear weapons programme. U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, who described North Korea as the world`s most tyrannical regime on Wednesday, flies into South Korea on Thursday ahead of the opening ceremony in the mountain resort of Pyeongchang, just 80 km (50 miles) from the heavily armed border with the reclusive North. The ceremony will also be attended by a senior delegation of North Korean officials, including the younger sister of leader Kim Jong Un and the North`s nominal head of state, Kim Yong Nam. The sister, Kim Yo Jong, and other members of her entourage will travel by private jet to Seoul`s Incheon International Airport on Friday afternoon, North Korea informed the South on Thursday. "We have never begged for dialogue with the U.S. nor in the future, too," the North`s KCNA news agency reported, citing Jo Yong Sam, director-general of the North American department of North Korea`s foreign ministry. "Explicitly speaking, we have no intention to meet with the U.S. side during the stay in South Korea ... Our delegation`s visit to South Korea is only to take part in the Olympics and hail its successful holding." Pence said the United States had not requested talks with North Korean officials but left open the possibility of some contact. "But if I have any contact with them, in any context, over the next two days, my message will be the same as it was here today: North Korea needs to, once and for all, abandon its nuclear and ballistic missile ambition," Pence told reporters as he left Japan. South Korea wants to use the Olympics to re-engage with North Korea and open the way for talks to resolve one of the world`s most dangerous crises, in which U.S. President Donald Trump and Pyongyang have swapped bellicose threats of nuclear war. Pence had said after meeting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo on Wednesday that Washington would soon unveil "the toughest and most aggressive round of economic sanctions on North Korea ever". In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told reporters that China saw the Olympics as a first step towards "everyday, uninterrupted" dialogue. All sides, not just the two Koreas, needed to work hard and dialogue between the United States and North Korea should be expanded for this to happen, Wang said. "You can’t have it that one person opens the door and another closes it," he said. Military parade North Korea marked the founding anniversary of its army with a large military parade in Pyongyang on Thursday, a government official told Reuters, having last month changed the date of the celebration to the eve of the Olympics. The official asked not to be identified because of the sensitivity of the issue. Domestic media reports said the parade was smaller than those of previous years. Pence will meet South Korean President Moon Jae-in in Seoul on Thursday. On Friday, before he attends the Olympic opening ceremony, he will visit a memorial for 46 South Korean sailors killed in 2010 in the sinking of a warship that Seoul blamed on a North Korean torpedo attack. Pence is taking the father of Otto Warmbier, an American student who died last year after being imprisoned in North Korea for 17 months. Kim Yo Jong, the 28-year-old sister of the North Korean leader, will be sitting in the same stadium as VIP guests along with ceremonial head of state Kim Yong Nam. She will be the first member of the Kim family to cross the border into the South. Kim Yo Jong is a propaganda official and was blacklisted last year by the U.S. Treasury Department over alleged human rights abuses and censorship. Japan`s Abe, whose nation has been within range of North Korean missiles for decades, will also attend the ceremony, adding to seating complications for the hosts. South Korea asked the United Nations on Wednesday for an exemption to allow a U.N.-sanctioned North Korean official, Choe Hwi, to attend the opening ceremony with Kim Yo Jong. The Unification Ministry in Seoul said no decision had been made yet on Choe and Pyongyang had not mentioned any change in their plans to send him. The U.N. Security Council, which has slapped a series of sanctions on North Korea for its weapons programmes, imposed a travel ban and asset freeze Choe last year when he was vice director of the Workers` Party of Korea Propaganda and Agitation Department. A group of 280 North Koreans arrived in South Korea on Wednesday, including a 229-member cheer squad, taekwondo performers, journalists and the sports minister. Preliminary competition at the Games began on Thursday, with events including curling and ski jumping. Organisers have already been battling some challenges, including a stomach virus that has hit dozens of staff and a fire near the Olympic media village on Thursday that produced thick black smoke but was quickly extinguished.

North Korea says no US talks planned at Olympics as Pence heads to Seoul

Nuclear-armed North Korea is a &quot;world class military power&quot;, leader Kim Jong Un declared at a military parade Thursday, a day before the opening ceremony for the Winter Olympics in the South.

Kim, who has overseen rapid progress in its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes, told a cheering audience in Kim Il Sung Square: &quot;We ... have become capable of showcasing our stature as a world-class military power to the world.&quot;

Kim has overseen rapid progress in its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes

Nuclear-armed North Korea is a "world class military power", leader Kim Jong Un declared at a military parade Thursday, a day before the opening ceremony for the Winter Olympics in the South. Kim, who has overseen rapid progress in its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes, told a cheering audience in Kim Il Sung Square: "We ... have become capable of showcasing our stature as a world-class military power to the world."

Kim Jong Un: North Korea is a 'world-class military power'

&nbsp;US&nbsp;Vice President Mike Pence vowed tough new sanctions against North Korea and called it the world&#39;s most tyrannical regime on Wednesday, two days before he is due to attend the winter Olympics, along with two of the North&#39;s most senior officials.

Speaking in Tokyo on his way to South Korea, which is hosting the Games over the next three weeks, Pence said he would soon announce the stepped-up sanctions in an effort to pressure the North to abandon its nuclear and missile programmes.

US&nbsp;Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a tweet that the sanctions would be unveiled &quot;in the coming weeks&quot; and urged all countries to fully implement existing UN&nbsp;sanctions and to back the U.S. pressure campaign by expelling North Korean &quot;financial facilitators and trade reps&quot;.

The Games, being staged 80 km (50 miles) from the heavily militarised border between the Koreas, is set for an awkward political encounter, with Pence as well as the North Korean leader&#39;s younger sister attending Friday&#39;s opening ceremony.

South Korea wants to use the event to re-engage with North Korea and open the way for talks to resolve one of the world&#39;s most dangerous crises, in which U.S. President Donald Trump and Pyongyang have swapped nuclear threats.

&quot;I&#39;m announcing today the United States of America will soon unveil the toughest and most aggressive round of economic sanctions on North Korea ever,&quot; Pence said after meeting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

&quot;We will continue to isolate North Korea until it abandons its nuclear and ballistic missile program once and for all.&quot;

Washington has led a global campaign to force North Korea to give up development of nuclear missiles capable of hitting the United States and has taken a tougher line recently than its allies in Seoul, exposing tensions that South Korean President Moon Jae-in could struggle to conceal at the Olympics.

Pence has voiced scepticism that the North Korea will use the Games for crude propaganda. As his guest at the opening ceremony, he is taking the father of Otto Warmbier, an American student who died last year after being imprisoned in North Korea for 17 months.

Sitting in the same stadium as VIP guests will be Kim Yo Jong, 28-year-old sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, and Kim Yong Nam, North Korea&#39;s nominal head of state.

Japan&#39;s Abe, whose nation has been within range of North Korean missiles for decades, will also attend the ceremony.

Kim Yo Jong would be the first member of the Kim family to cross the border to the South. She is a propaganda official and was blacklisted last year by the U.S. Treasury Department over alleged human rights abuses and censorship.

&quot;It shows the North&#39;s resolve to defuse tension on the Korean peninsula,&quot; Blue House spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom told a news briefing.

Pence has not ruled out the prospect of meeting North Korean officials during the Games, but President Trump, whose daughter and adviser Ivanka will attend the Olympic closing ceremony, has cast doubt on the value of U.S. talks with Pyongyang anytime soon.

&quot;We will not allow North Korea to hide behind the Olympic banner the reality that they enslave their people and threaten the wider region,&quot; Pence said.

The White House has also cautioned against reading too much into remarks Pence made en route to Japan.

Analysts said that while Seoul appeared keen to set up a US-North Korea meeting, the chances of this happening did not look high.

&quot;The fact that the U.S. is bringing along Otto Warmbier&rsquo;s father suggests that their interest in engaging with the North Koreans while in Korea is pretty low,&quot; Abraham Denmark, a senior defence official under former President Barack Obama, told a conference call organised by the Wilson Center think tank.

The United States has said repeatedly that any future talks with North Korea must have the aim of North Korea&#39;s denuclearisation, something Pyongyang has rejected.

US&nbsp;Secretary of State Rex Tillerson told reporters travelling with him on a visit to Jamaica that he did not anticipate a meeting at the Olympics, but &quot;it just depends on the circumstances as to whether this is the right time or not.&quot;

He added that sanctions pressure would continue &quot;until North Korea gets on a pathway to giving up its nuclear weapons&quot;.

&quot;That is an important message for the North Koreans to understand. Until you do something meaningful - sending some athletes and an orchestra down to Seoul, to show us that yes, you can play sports and you enjoy music - that doesn&rsquo;t change anything,&quot; he said.

South Korea asked the United Nations on Wednesday for an exemption to allow a UN&nbsp;sanctioned North Korean official, Choe Hwi, to attend the opening ceremony with Kim Yo Jong.

Pyongyang told Seoul that Choe Hwi, chairman of the National Sports Guidance Committee, would travel to Pyeongchang as part of its delegation.

The UN&nbsp;Security Council imposed a travel ban and asset freeze on Choe on June 2 last year when he was vice director of the Workers&#39; Party of Korea Propaganda and Agitation Department, which controls ideological messaging through the media, arts and culture. Kim Yo Jong now holds that position.

Abe said he and Pence had agreed in talks that they could &quot;never accept a nuclear-armed North Korea&quot;.

Pence visited a Patriot PAC-3 missile battery, Japan&#39;s last line of defence against any strike from North Korea, which fired ballistic missiles over the country last year.

A group of 280 North Koreans arrived in South Korea on Wednesday to spur on athletes from the two sides at the Games. They included a 229-member cheer squad, taekwondo performers, journalists and the sports minister.

On Tuesday, a ferry carrying a North Korean orchestra arrived for the Games. Since it docked, North Korea has asked the South to provide oil for refuelling.

Oil has taken centre stage in global efforts to curb Pyongyang&#39;s nuclear and missile programmes, with Washington urging a drastic cut in energy supplies to the isolated country.

Speaking in Tokyo on his way to South Korea, which is hosting the Games over the next three weeks, Pence said he would soon announce the stepped-up sanctions in an effort to pressure the North to abandon its nuclear and missile programmes.

US Vice President Mike Pence vowed tough new sanctions against North Korea and called it the world's most tyrannical regime on Wednesday, two days before he is due to attend the winter Olympics, along with two of the North's most senior officials. Speaking in Tokyo on his way to South Korea, which is hosting the Games over the next three weeks, Pence said he would soon announce the stepped-up sanctions in an effort to pressure the North to abandon its nuclear and missile programmes. US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a tweet that the sanctions would be unveiled "in the coming weeks" and urged all countries to fully implement existing UN sanctions and to back the U.S. pressure campaign by expelling North Korean "financial facilitators and trade reps". The Games, being staged 80 km (50 miles) from the heavily militarised border between the Koreas, is set for an awkward political encounter, with Pence as well as the North Korean leader's younger sister attending Friday's opening ceremony. South Korea wants to use the event to re-engage with North Korea and open the way for talks to resolve one of the world's most dangerous crises, in which U.S. President Donald Trump and Pyongyang have swapped nuclear threats. "I'm announcing today the United States of America will soon unveil the toughest and most aggressive round of economic sanctions on North Korea ever," Pence said after meeting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. "We will continue to isolate North Korea until it abandons its nuclear and ballistic missile program once and for all." Washington has led a global campaign to force North Korea to give up development of nuclear missiles capable of hitting the United States and has taken a tougher line recently than its allies in Seoul, exposing tensions that South Korean President Moon Jae-in could struggle to conceal at the Olympics. Pence has voiced scepticism that the North Korea will use the Games for crude propaganda. As his guest at the opening ceremony, he is taking the father of Otto Warmbier, an American student who died last year after being imprisoned in North Korea for 17 months. Sitting in the same stadium as VIP guests will be Kim Yo Jong, 28-year-old sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, and Kim Yong Nam, North Korea's nominal head of state. Japan's Abe, whose nation has been within range of North Korean missiles for decades, will also attend the ceremony. Kim Yo Jong would be the first member of the Kim family to cross the border to the South. She is a propaganda official and was blacklisted last year by the U.S. Treasury Department over alleged human rights abuses and censorship. "It shows the North's resolve to defuse tension on the Korean peninsula," Blue House spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom told a news briefing. Pence has not ruled out the prospect of meeting North Korean officials during the Games, but President Trump, whose daughter and adviser Ivanka will attend the Olympic closing ceremony, has cast doubt on the value of U.S. talks with Pyongyang anytime soon. "We will not allow North Korea to hide behind the Olympic banner the reality that they enslave their people and threaten the wider region," Pence said. The White House has also cautioned against reading too much into remarks Pence made en route to Japan. Analysts said that while Seoul appeared keen to set up a US-North Korea meeting, the chances of this happening did not look high. "The fact that the U.S. is bringing along Otto Warmbier’s father suggests that their interest in engaging with the North Koreans while in Korea is pretty low," Abraham Denmark, a senior defence official under former President Barack Obama, told a conference call organised by the Wilson Center think tank. The United States has said repeatedly that any future talks with North Korea must have the aim of North Korea's denuclearisation, something Pyongyang has rejected. US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson told reporters travelling with him on a visit to Jamaica that he did not anticipate a meeting at the Olympics, but "it just depends on the circumstances as to whether this is the right time or not." He added that sanctions pressure would continue "until North Korea gets on a pathway to giving up its nuclear weapons". "That is an important message for the North Koreans to understand. Until you do something meaningful - sending some athletes and an orchestra down to Seoul, to show us that yes, you can play sports and you enjoy music - that doesn’t change anything," he said. South Korea asked the United Nations on Wednesday for an exemption to allow a UN sanctioned North Korean official, Choe Hwi, to attend the opening ceremony with Kim Yo Jong. Pyongyang told Seoul that Choe Hwi, chairman of the National Sports Guidance Committee, would travel to Pyeongchang as part of its delegation. The UN Security Council imposed a travel ban and asset freeze on Choe on June 2 last year when he was vice director of the Workers' Party of Korea Propaganda and Agitation Department, which controls ideological messaging through the media, arts and culture. Kim Yo Jong now holds that position. Abe said he and Pence had agreed in talks that they could "never accept a nuclear-armed North Korea". Pence visited a Patriot PAC-3 missile battery, Japan's last line of defence against any strike from North Korea, which fired ballistic missiles over the country last year. A group of 280 North Koreans arrived in South Korea on Wednesday to spur on athletes from the two sides at the Games. They included a 229-member cheer squad, taekwondo performers, journalists and the sports minister. On Tuesday, a ferry carrying a North Korean orchestra arrived for the Games. Since it docked, North Korea has asked the South to provide oil for refuelling. Oil has taken centre stage in global efforts to curb Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programmes, with Washington urging a drastic cut in energy supplies to the isolated country.

Ahead of Olympics face-off, Mike Pence vows new North Korea sanctions

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