N.Korean orchestra arrives in S.Korea

North Korea’s state-run Rodong Sinmun newspaper described Trump in an editorial on Tuesday as a lunatic who was slandering the nation with talk of North Korean oppression.

Late a year ago, at the height of recent tensions between the USA and Kim Jong Un regime, Tillerson publicly confirmed that the administration had maintained direct communication with North Korea through secret, low-level channels.

He is regarded as the ceremonial head of state, but does not hold the title of national president – and nor does Kim Jong-Un.

Kim, who turned 90 this month, is a former Minister of Foreign Affairs and in his current position is one of the country’s top three officials, alongside leader Kim Jong Un.

The almost identical comments by Pence and Tillerson expressing openness to a meeting with the North Koreans appeared deliberate and coordinated.

The handover of the Olympic flag will see the mayor of Pyeongchang Seok-Rae Lee, give the flag to IOC President Thomas Bach, who will then hand it over to the mayor of Beijing, Chen Jining.

Vice President Mike Pence arrived in Japan late Tuesday en route to the games where he will lead a delegation to the opening ceremony, along with the top US general in South Korea and more diplomatic and military officials.

Seoul had banned all North Korean ships entering its ports after the North Korean torpedo attack in 2010 – the event that Pence will commemorate during his visit.

The arrival of the 9,600-ton Mangyongbong-92 raised questions about whether it had violated global sanctions against North Korea, whose vessels are banned from entering South Korean waters.

The North is set to stage a huge military parade the day before the opening ceremonies, so there will be plenty of images of martial firepower lingering when Kim Yong Nam arrives. The total number of American tourists who used Airbnb in the region stood at around 2,700 previous year, it said.

He says results of tests on the workers will come out soon.

North Korean athletes will march alongside those from the South during Friday’s opening ceremonies and compete on a unified Korean women’s ice hockey team. It was the South, after all, that put in the time, money and work to win the bid and build the games.

The South Korean government said it had made a special exception to allow the Olympic Games to proceed smoothly, after discussing the matter with the U.S.

The news provoked consternation in Winter Games host South Korea, coming just days after the unpredictable, nuclear-armed North agreed to participate in Pyeongchang following months of cajoling by Seoul to join in a “peace Olympics”.

But it may be seen as disappointing by some if he proves to be the most important member of the delegation, as he is largely considered a figurehead whose public diplomatic role leaves it unclear how much political power he really has.