North Korean art troupe returns home after performances in the South
Uploader: Arirang News
Original upload date: Mon, 12 Feb 2018 00:00:00 GMT
Archive date: Mon, 06 Dec 2021 01:36:39 GMT
현송월 등 北예술단 137명 북으로…경의선 육로 통해 귀환
The visiting arts troupe also returned home after completing their show in the South.
Kwon Jang-ho provides a recap of the noteworthy happenings during the first No
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rth Korean performance in the nation in more than a decade.
With a smile and a wave, the North Korean arts troupe made its way back home to the North.
The 137-member group crossed the inter-Korean border at western checkpoint in Paju, six days after it first arrived.
During that time, the troupe, known as the Samjiwon Orchestra, performed twice, once in the Olympic sub-host city of Gangneung, and once in Seoul.
The group sang a mixture of South and North Korean songs, as well as western pop and classical music.
The performance in the capital was attended by President Moon Jae-in and North Korean officials, and the head of the troupe, Hyon Song-wol, made a surprise guest performance, along with South Korean pop-star Seo-hyun.
Both nights passed without incident and were generally well received.
The troupe had arrived in South Korea's east coast by ferry, and it was expected to return via the same route.
But on arrival North Korean officials said they needed more fuel to go back.
There were concerns in Seoul at how this would affect international sanctions, but after two days of unsuccessful negotiations with South Korean officials, the North withdrew its request, and decided to send the boat back with just the crew, while the art troupe returned via the land route.
The art troupe's return did not go ahead without controversy, however.
In an embarrassing moment for South Korean officials, a North Korean defector, Kim Ryon-hui , turned up at border checkpoint which is heavily restricted to civilians.
Kim, who has previously expressed her desire to return to the North, shouted goodbye to the group, and said that she hoped to return as soon as possible, while government officials tried to hold her back.
Kim defected in 2011 and renounced her ties to the regime, but has since said she was deceived by a broker and has requested to be repatriated, which Seoul has denied.
Kwon Jang-ho, Arirang News.
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