| President Moon Jae-in stands for photo with Kim Yo-jong, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's sister and special envoy, and the North's nominal head of state Kim Yong-nam, ahead of their meeting at Cheong Wa Dae, Saturday. / Yonhap |
By Kim Rahn
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's sister Kim Yo-jong stole the limelight at the PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games during her historic three-day stay in South Korea.
She mainly remained expressionless, sometimes smiling when meeting South Korean dignitaries. Her voice was not made public as well, as she did not speak in front of cameras.
But her presence in South Korean territory was enough to draw much attention from both South Koreans and the international community, as it was the first time any member of the North's ruling Kim family has visited the South since the 1950-53 Korean War, and was the debut of a reclusive Kim dynasty member in international and diplomatic affairs.
The surprising visit of the highest-profile delegate, who came as her brother's special envoy, brought a surprising proposal from Kim Jong-un to invite President Moon Jae-in to Pyongyang, speeding up the improvement of inter-Korean relations.
Kim Yo-jong arrived at Incheon International Airport Friday afternoon via a private jet, along with the state's nominal head Kim Yong-nam, State Physical Culture and Sports Guidance Commission Chairman Choe Hwi, and Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland Chairman Ri Son-gwon.
The high-level delegation moved to PyeongChang via the KTX bullet train to attend the opening ceremony of the Games. Before the ceremony, Kim Yong-nam attended a reception hosted by Moon for heads of states.
| Kim Yo-jong, back row right, and Kim Yong-nam, back row left, watch the opening ceremony of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics from the VIP box of the Olympic stadium, Friday. Front row left is U.S. Vice President Mike Pence and right, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. / Yonhap |
At the opening ceremony, Kim Yo-jong sat in the second row of the VIP box with Kim Yong-nam. The two Kims and U.S. Vice President Mike Pence avoided interacting, showing chilly Pyongyang-Washington relations over the former's nuclear issue.
They stayed at Walkerhill Hotel in eastern Seoul.
On the second day the North Korean delegation had talks and lunch with Moon at Cheong Wa Dae, the first visit to the presidential office by North Korean officials since August 2009.
Kim Yo-jong delivered a personally written letter from Kim Jong-un, which stated his willingness to improve inter-Korean relations. Also in a verbal message, she said the North Korean leader is willing to meet with Moon and asked him to visit Pyongyang at his earliest convenience.
During the lunch, she also said, "I hope to see you in Pyongyang as soon as possible. If you meet Kim Jong-un and exchange opinions on various issues, inter-Korean relations will improve rapidly as if yesterday is the old days. I hope you can play a leading role in opening a new chapter for reunification and make an accomplishment that will last forever," according to presidential chief press secretary Yoon Young-chan.
| Cars carrying North Korean delegates including Kim Yo-jong head for Cheong Wa Dae, Saturday. At the presidential office, Kim wrote in a guestbook: "I hope Pyongyang and Seoul will get closer in our people's minds and unification and prosperity will come in the near future."/ Yonhap |
The delegation then moved to Gangneung via KTX and attended a dinner hosted by Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon. They watched the North-South joint women's hockey team play afterward, which Moon, first lady Kim Jung-sook and several more Cheong Wa Dae officials attended. They together cheered for the team and had a photo session with the team after the game.
On the third day the delegation had a lunch with Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon at the hotel of their stay. Later in the evening, they watched a cultural performance by a North Korean art troupe at the National Theater of Korea in Seoul, together with Moon.
They returned to the North by private jet late at night.
| President Moon Jae-in, second from left, International Olympics Committee President Thomas Bach, third from left, Kim Yong-nam, fourth from left, and Kim Yo-jong, fifth from left, watch the two Koreas' joint women's ice hockey team compete against Switzerland at Kwandong Hockey Centre in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, Saturday. / Korea Times photo by Shin Hyun-chul |