DPRK team inspects Olympic venues in ROK

PYONGYANG - An advance team of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) paid a three-day visit to the Republic of Korea (ROK) to inspect select Winter Olympic Games venues, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Saturday.

The eight-member delegation, led by Yun Yong-bok, deputy director at the Ministry of Physical Culture and Sports, inspected the venues for DPRK delegations, including the DPRK National Olympic Committee, athletes, cheer group and press corps, during the 23rd Winter Olympics.

The visit followed a trip by Hyon Song-wol, head of the DPRK's Samjiyon Orchestra, who visited Seoul and Kangrung to inspect the preparations for an upcoming performance by the DPRK art troupe.

An ROK's advance team led by Ri Ju-thae, department director of the Ministry of Unification, has also visited the DPRK, touring places such as the Masikryong Ski Resort and Mt. Kumgang area, where a joint training of skiers from both sides and a joint cultural event are to be held ahead of the Winter Olympics.

After high-level talks between the two sides on Jan 9, the DPRK decided to send a delegation to take part in the Winter Olympics.

Subsequently, during further talks on Jan 15, Pyongyang agreed to send its art troupe comprising over 140 members to perform in Kangrung and Seoul.

Two days later, both sides agreed to jointly train their skiers and hold a cultural event from late January to early February, according to the KCNA.