{"id":14773,"date":"2018-02-05T07:09:00","date_gmt":"2018-02-05T07:09:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/associatednews.us\/content\/2018\/02\/05\/top-north-korean-official-to-lead-delegation-to-olympics\/"},"modified":"2018-02-05T07:09:00","modified_gmt":"2018-02-05T07:09:00","slug":"top-north-korean-official-to-lead-delegation-to-olympics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/associatednews.us\/content\/top-north-korean-official-to-lead-delegation-to-olympics\/","title":{"rendered":"Top North Korean Official To Lead Delegation To Olympics"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Scott Neuman<\/a><\/span> <\/p>\n

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\n North Korean Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly Kim Yong Nam, center, walks through the Pyongyang International Airport, in 2015, in Pyongyang, North Korea.<\/p>\n

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Kim Kwang Hyon\/AP<\/p>\n

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Kim Kwang Hyon\/AP<\/p>\n

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North Korea’s ceremonial leader, Kim Yong Nam, will visit South Korea as part of a high-level delegation attending the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics this week amid somewhat eased tensions between the bitter rivals.<\/p>\n

Kim is the president of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly and is the nominal head of North Korea, although nearly all real power is concentrated in the hands of third-generation hereditary ruler, Kim Jong Un.<\/p>\n

South Korean President Moon Jae-in is hoping for a one-on-one meeting with Kim Yong Nam during the latter’s visit, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency says.<\/a><\/p>\n

“President Moon will be meeting with Kim, beginning with the Olympic opening ceremony,” Yonhap says, quoting an official from Moon’s office. “But it is something that should be discussed with the North’s advance delegation whether Kim will separately pay a visit to President Moon,” the official said.<\/p>\n

“[Kim’s visit] shows North Korea’s resolve for improved inter-Korean relations and the success of the Olympics, as well as its sincere, earnest attitude,” a spokesman for Moon during a news conference on Monday.<\/p>\n