DPRK government delegation arrives in South Korea for Winter Olympics

A high-ranking delegation of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea arrived in South Korea Friday to attend the opening ceremony of the South Korea-hosted Winter Olympics.

The government delegation of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to the PyeongChang Winter Olympics arrives in South Korea on Feb. 9, 2018. [Photo: IC]

The white-color private jet carrying the DPRK delegation arrived at the Incheon International Airport in South Korea's western port city of Incheon at about 1:46 p.m. local time (0446 GMT), according to local TV footage.

The high-level DPRK delegation, led by Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, was greeted by South Korean Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon, Vice Unification Minister Chun Hae-sung and Nam Gwan-pyo, deputy director of the presidential National Security Office.

The delegation includes Kim Yo Jong, a younger sister of top DPRK leader Kim Jong Un, who serves as the first vice director of the Central Committee of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea.

Two other DPRK delegates are Choe Hwi, chairman of the National Sports Guidance Committee and Ri Son Gwon, chairman of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland.

The DPRK delegates, all dressed in long black coats, had a conversation at a guest room inside the airport with the South Korean officials, including the deputy director of the National Security Office of the Blue House.

They left for PyeongChang, an eastern county of South Korea, by high-speed rail to attend the opening ceremony of the 23rd Winter Olympics set to kick off on Friday night.

The DPRK delegation will stay in South Korea for three days till Sunday. Kim, the top DPRK legislator, will attend a reception hosted by South Korean President Moon Jae-in, before the opening ceremony begins.

The high-ranking DPRK delegation is expected to meet and have lunch with President Moon on Saturday.

It is the first time since October 2014 that a high-ranking DPRK delegation visited South Korea. A delegation from the DPRK visited Incheon in 2014 to attend the closing ceremony of the Asian Games.