WORLD
Conservative South Korean activists burned a large photo of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as the head of the North's extremely popular girl band passed them today during a visit to Seoul amid a flurry of cooperation agreements between the rivals ahead of next month's Winter Olympics in the South.
Conservative South Korean activists burned a large photo of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as the head of the North's extremely popular girl band passed them today during a visit to Seoul amid a flurry of cooperation agreements between the rivals ahead of next month's Winter Olympics in the South.
Hyon Song Wol, a North Korean celebrity who heads Kim's hand-picked Moranbong Band, began a two-day visit yesterday, triggering media frenzy in South Korea about Hyon, who is also in charge of the North's artistic performances during the Olympics.
It has been rare for such a high-profile North Korean to travel to South Korea in recent years as bilateral ties deteriorated over North Korea's nuclear program before the nations abruptly began seeking to improve relations this month ahead of the February 9-25 Olympics.
After her visits to potential venues for North Korean performances in an eastern city, Hyon arrived back Monday at the Seoul railway station where she saw about 150 to 200 activists protesting her visit and recent inter-Korean rapprochement deals.
Hyon saw the activists but did not react. After she left the area, the demonstrators used a blowtorch to burn Kim's photo, a North Korean flag and a "unification flag" that athletes of the rival Koreas plan to carry together during the opening ceremony of the Olympics.
Police used fire extinguishers to put out the fire, but the activists later stamped on Kim's photo and the flags and burned them.
Police plan to investigate the protesters, according to Yonhap news agency. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said they couldn't immediately confirm the report.
Hyon's visit made her the subject of intense South Korean media attention, with photographers following her every move and TV stations aggressively reporting about not only her career and band but also her fox-fur muffler, boots and facial expressions.
The band, with young women in short skirts and high heels dancing and singing odes to Kim, has drawn wide attention even though little information about it is available to outsiders.
South Korean media say Hyon is an army colonel and is close to Kim.
South Korea's liberal government led by President Moon Jae-in sees North Korea's participation in the games, both in sporting events and cultural exchanges, as a way to calm tensions caused by the North's recent nuclear and missile tests and war of words with the United States.
"We need wisdom and efforts to keep alive the chances for dialogue we've pulled off miraculously after the Pyeongchang Olympics," Moon said.
"We must get South-North Korean talks developed into talks between North Korea and the United States ... so that we can resolve the North Korean nuclear issue peacefully," Moon said in a meeting with aides, according to his office.
Under a deal brokered by the International Olympic Committee, the two Koreas will field their first unified Olympic team, in women's hockey, and have their athletes march together under the joint flag depicting their peninsula during the February 9 opening ceremony.
North Korea is to send a total of 22 athletes to the games after they were granted exceptional entries by the IOC.
The deals on a unified hockey team and the use of the joint flag have caused a heated debate in South Korea, reflecting changes in public views toward North Korea in recent years.
A survey showed a majority of South Korean oppose the joint hockey team, which critics say will deprive South Korean players of due playing time.
South Korea's main conservative opposition party complained over what it called excessive security for Hyon.
"The Moon government is offering gracious hospitality to a North Korean army colonel as if she's a queen. ... Did they forget North Korea had until recently been threatening to turn South Korea into a sea of fire with its nuclear weapons and missiles?" a party statement said.
The current mood of reconciliation between the Koreas began after North Korean leader Kim expressed his willingness to improve ties and send a delegation to the Olympics during his annual New Year's address.
Outside critics have dismissed Kim's overture as a tactic to use improved ties with Seoul to weaken US-led international sanctions against North Korea's nuclear and missile programs.
Hyon's Moranbong Band will not visit South Korea during the games, but she will head a little-known 140-member art troupe that is to perform twice.
The art troupe, which comprises orchestra members, singers and dancers, is part of North Korea's Olympic delegation that also includes a 230-member cheering group, journalists and a taekwondo demonstration team.
Hyon was traveling with six other North Koreans. They inspected possible venues in the eastern city of Gangneung, where some Olympic events are scheduled to take place, yesterday and in Seoul today.
ISRO's EOS-06 satellite captures Phytoplankton concentration on global scale
IND vs ENG: Will Virat Kohli play in 2nd ODI vs England? Shubman Gill provides huge injury update
Who is Kiran Chaudhury? PCS officer caught in bribe case, just 4 years after posting
Jeet Adani-Diva Shah's wedding today: Know venue, gifts for guests and more
Meet woman, who works in Rs 163000 crore company, daughter of Hyderabad’s richest man
This is world's greenest railway station, 170 years old, home to over 7,000 plants, it's in....
As Sky Force nears Rs 150 crore, Nimrat Kaur treats househelp, her kids with movie screening
IND vs ENG: Shreyas Iyer creates history, becomes first player to achieve THIS massive milestone
Meet man, India's richest banker, who has bought Rs 202 crore property, his net worth is Rs...
'Heard there was....': Former India head coach provides major update on Virat Kohli's injury
A New Geopolitical Era: India and Israel's Role in the Evolving Middle East
David Warner’s touching moment with fans after Dubai Capitals reaches final of DP World ILT20
India’s Largest Book Stall Network: PrashantAdvait Foundation’s Mission to Revive Reading Culture
Mawra Hocane stuns in pastel mint green lehenga at her wedding to Ameer Gilani
Deepinder Goyal's Zomato changes its name, CEO shares journey of company, it is now called...
Rose Day 2025: Know the date, history, significance of each rose colour ahead of Valentine's day
'BJP-led NDA works for Santushtikaran, not Tushtikaran': PM Modi in Rajya Sabha
Who is Belle Gibson? Australian wellness guru created fake cancer story and later...
DP World ILT20 2025: Dubai Capitals clinch last ball thriller against Desert Vipers to reach final
Jeet Adani-Diva Shah wedding: First pic from Gautam Adani's mansion OUT as wedding festivities begin
Sunita Williams’ Spacewalk: A Record-Breaking Mission and a Stunning Selfie from Space
IND vs ENG: Ravindra Jadeja creates history in Nagpur, surpasses James Anderson to become....
Can IAS officers change cadres after marriage? Here's what rules say
Pavan Kumar Joshi innovates unemployment benefits payment security
Anil Ambani's company's share price surges over 6 per cent after it earns profit of Rs...
Why Dale Bhagwagar is Bollywood's only PR guru
Meet Anjum Khan, wife of cricket star Shivam Dube, her net worth is Rs...
IAF Mirage 2000 fighter aircraft crashes in MP's Shivpuri during training sortie
Meet IAS Tina Dabi's mother, who cleared UPSC to become IES, later resigned due to...
Good news for Infosys employees! Company to roll out annual hike letters by end of...
BIG win for India's largest govt bank, earns Rs 16891 crore profit in just...
Ajith Kumar's fans celebrate, throng theatres after Vidaamuyarchi's worldwide release: Watch
Purnam’s Spring Edit: Where heritage meets handcrafted luxury
RTPS Bihar: Apply for income, caste, and domicile certificates
'Welfare of students very close to Government's heart': EAM Jaishankar in Rajya Sabha
IND vs ENG: Why is Virat Kohli not playing 1st ODI vs England in Nagpur?
Man's love for Indian wife knows no bounds, makes dosa batter from scratch, video goes viral
Meet woman, CRPF officer, who cracked UPSC exam in first attempt, became...
Trump administration plans to pressure the IOC to come up with a uniform transgender athlete ban
PM Modi's 'Pariksha Pe Charcha' to feature Deepika Padukone, Mary Kom, Sadhguru among others
Why speed matters: Ajay Chava on overhauling CI/CD pipelines for modern development
What does "i" stands for in iPhone, iPad, and other Apple products? Check here to know
Meet Pakistani actress whose leaked private video went viral, often shares bold photos, she is..
After Isha Ambani, Ananya Birla set to enter into new space, it is...
Shah Rukh Khan hugs Aamir Khan at Loveyapa screening, fans say '90s' kids can fly now': Watch
Meet Diva Shah, daughter of diamond tycoon, she is set to marry Gautam Adani’s son Jeet Adani on...
After US, Israel halts participation in UN Human Rights Council
Sanam Teri Kasam actress Mawra Hocane ties the knot with Pakistani star Ameer Gilani, see photos