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Samjiyon performance group director Hyon Song-wol attends inter-Korean working talks as one of the representatives at Tongilgak (Unification Pavilion) on the North Korean side of Panmunjeom on Jan. 15. (provided by Unification Ministry) 　

North Korea abruptly cancelled a scheduled Jan. 20 visit to South Korea by a preliminary review team for its performers at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics. Pyongyang previously announced on the morning of Jan. 19 that it planned to send a six-member delegation including Samjiyon performance group director Hyon Song-wol to South Korea on Jan. 20 to conduct a preliminary review for North Korean performers scheduled to appear in a celebratory performance at the Games.

“The North notified us that it was suspending its plans to send a preliminary review team tomorrow to our side,” the Ministry of Unification announced on the evening of Jan. 19.

Earlier that morning, a message was sent to Minister of Unification and senior representative for inter-Korean talks Cho Myoung-gyon in the name of the North Korean delegation leader and Committee for Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland (CPRF) director Ri Son-gwon that announced plans to send Hyon and the other members of the review team by means of the Gyeongui railway line for a two-day visit.

“The North did not give a reason for suspending its plans to send a review team, but it appears to be a postponement rather than a cancellation,” a senior Ministry of Unification official said.

“The liaison officer at Panmunjeom is scheduled for normal operations on the weekend, so there will be additional confirmation of related details,” the official added.

The South and North Korean sides previously reached an agreement on the North Korean performers’ visit during high-level talks on Jan. 9. In working-level discussions on Jan. 15, they agreed on a plan to have a group consisting of around 140 members of North Korea’s Samjiyon performance group give one performance each in Gangneung and Seoul. They also agreed on the sending of a preliminary review team to conduct examinations of the North Korean performers’ venue, stage conditions, necessary facilities, and equipment installation.

During their visit, Hyon and the other team members were expected to tour the venues in Seoul and Gangneung and meet with South Korean officials to discuss the performance schedule and content. The same afternoon, the South Korean government notified the North of plans to send an advance party of 12 members, including Ministry of Unification bureau director Lee Ju-tae, to North Korea via the Donghae railway line on Jan. 23 for a three-day visit in connection with joint cultural events in the Mt. Kumgang area and joint training by South and North Korean skiers at Masikryong Ski Resort. The announcement came after an agreement reached during vice-ministerial level talks on Jan. 17.

By Jung In-hwan, staff reporter

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