North Korea to send head of state to South Korea for Olympics

February 5, 2018

Yesterday, North Korea announced head of state is to attend ceremonies in, South Korea, for the upcoming Winter Olympics. The proposed visit would make Kim the highest-ranking North Korean official to go to the South in several years. The move comes after the two Koreas announced a unified team to play women's ice hockey in the games and the North canceled a scheduled joint ceremonial display, opting instead for a military parade on their side of the.

Kim holds the title of President of the Presidium of the, a purely ceremonial role in the legislative body of North Korea. He is to head a 22-member delegation supplementing artists, athletes, coaches, and a cheer squad of over 200. The last time a high-ranking official visited the South was the in  when army leader and  member  came to the closing ceremony. Hwang was purportedly the second most powerful man in North Korea behind supreme leader Kim Jong-un until he disappeared in late 2017.

South Korea's announced the delegation after the unified Korean women's ice hockey team lost to Sweden 3–1. The two nations plan to march together on February 9's opening ceremony but the North canceled a joint cultural event, instead announcing a military parade for the day before. The allies are to hold annual joint military exercises after the which follow the Olympic Games.