Soldiers
stand in front of the podium with portraits of North Korea
founder Kim Il-sung and the late leader Kim Jong-il, after a
military parade to celebrate the centenary of the birth of Kim
Il-sung in Pyongyang, April 15, 2012.
REUTERS/Bobby Yip
North Korea announced that it had "no choice" but to
cancel a scheduled joint cultural performance with South
Korea.
North Korea's statement cited what it called South
Korea's "insulting" media coverage of its participation in the
Winter Olympics for the cancellation.
The cultural performance would have included Korean pop
and traditional music, including a performance with artists
from both countries.
North Korea announced that it had "no choice" but to cancel a
scheduled joint cultural performance with South Korea, five days
before the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, according to
South Korea's Unification Ministry.
A late-night statement from North Korea said the cultural
performance, which was supposed to be held in North Korea, was
canceled due to South Korea's "insulting" media coverage of North
Korea's participation in the Winter Olympics and of its "internal
celebrations," ostensibly referring to its upcoming military parade, South Korean
news organization Chosun Ilbo reported.
In response to North Korea's abrupt cancellation, South Korea's
Unification Ministry reportedly said "North Korea's unilateral
notification on the South-North Korean agreement for the event"
was "very regrettable."
The cultural event was scheduled to include Korean pop and
traditional music, including a performance with artists from both
countries.
North Korea is still poised to participate in the Winter Olympics
with its 22 athletes taking part in several sporting events, and
a massive art troupe that includes an orchestra.
The latest cancellation would not be the first time North Korea
pulled out of an appearance in preparation for the Winter
Olympics. Two weeks ago, a North Korean delegation canceled an
appearance by Hyon Song Wol, a North Korean musician who recently
gained a cult-like following, without providing an explanation,
multiple news outlets reported.
After North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's announcement of his
country's willingness to appear at the Winter Olympics earlier
this month, South Korean news networks have focused on reporting
minute details of the North Korean delegation and the public
sentiment in the country — including the discontent amongst South
Koreans who oppose the North's
participation in joint sporting events, such as the women's
hockey team.
South Korean media outlets have recently been criticized by both
North and South Korean officials. The South Korean media frenzy surrounding the
delegation included second-by-second coverage of notable North
Koreans visiting the country, such as Song Wol, and prompted
government officials to issue a warning against local reporters
who made the delegation feel "uncomfortable."
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