North Korean musical performance group to arrive in South Korea on Feb. 6

The North Korean Rodong Shinmun reported on Feb. 6 that a North Korean cultural performance group led by Kwon Hyok Bong, director of the Arts and Performance Bureau in North Korea‘s Culture Ministry and Samjiyon musical performance group director Hyun Song-wol departed from Pyongyang Station on Feb. 5. The group took a train to Wonsan, where they boarded the Mangyongbong-92 passenger ferry that will take them to South Korea.

The May 24 sanctions will be temporarily lifted to allow the group to enter the country via ferry

A North Korean performance group visiting South Korea on Feb. 6 for a celebratory performance for the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics is scheduled to arrive on the Mangyongbong-92 passenger ferry. While the so-called “May 24 measures” announced during the Lee Myung-bak administration in 2010 prohibit North Korean vessels from entering South Korean waters or ports, the South Korean government reportedly plans to suspend the ban during the Pyeongchang Olympics. With land and air routes previously opened between South and North Korea for the Pyeongchang Olympics, they are now set to be joined by an additional route over the sea.

“The North informed us through a notification yesterday, Feb. 4, that the main body of the performance group plans to arrive in South Korea on Feb. 6 using the Mangyongbong-92 and is scheduled to use [the ferry] for the group’s accommodations,” Ministry of Unification spokesperson Baik Tae-hyun said in a regular briefing on Feb. 5.

North Korea initially suggested Panmunjeom as the route for the group’s visit, before changing its stance in favor of the land route via the Gyeongui railway line. On Feb. 5, 23 members of an advance team for the performance group arrived as scheduled over the Gyeongui line.

The South Korean government previously considered the possibility that the North Korean delegation might visit by boat and weighed whether this would be in violation of sanctions. The May 24 measures prohibit North Korean vessels from sailing in South Korean waters. But the South Korean government reportedly reached the conclusion that because the May 24 measures were “discretionary measures” announced verbally by the Minister of Unification, the current Minister is also authorized to suspend them without additional legal procedures. The May 24 measures are sanctions against North Korea announced by the Lee Myung-bak administration in 2010 in response to the sinking of the ROKS Cheonan.

Citizens wave the Unification flag toward the Mangyeongbong-92 at the farewell ceremonies at the Busan Port International Ferry Terminal following the close of the Asian Games on Sept. 15, 2002. (by Kim Bong-gyu, staff photographer)

Baik explained that “an exception to the May 24 measures is being considered to support the success of the Pyeongchang Olympics.”

“Close discussions will be held with the US and international community to ensure this does not conflict with sanctions,” he added.

The Mangyongbong-92 ferry is not subject to sanctions according to UN Security Council resolutions or independent sanctions by the South Korean or US government.

North Korea explained that the decision to use the Mangyongbong-92 was “intended for the convenience of food and accomodation during the Gangneung performance.” The North Korean performance group, which consists of around 140 members of the Samjiyon Orchestra, now appears poised to use the ferry to meet its accommodation and food needs through its Feb. 8 performance at Gangneung Culture and Art Center.

The Mangyeongbong-92 was also used as accommodations for around 300 North Korean cheering squad members during the Busan Asian Games in Sept. 2002. The North Korean performers reportedly plan to travel by train to Seoul for a Feb. 11 performance at the Haeorum Theater of the National Theater of Korea, while Samjiyon director Hyon Song-wol is seen as likely to stay at Walkerhill Hotel in Seoul’s Gwangjang neighborhood, which she previously visited on Jan. 22.

“For the Seoul performance, [the North Koreans] appear likely to stay at Walkerhill Hotel, which was previously examined by the advance team for the performance group,” a Ministry of Unification official said.

“Continued discussions on the details will take place through the Panmunjeom channel,” the official added.

Discussions are still reportedly under way on the route to be used for the return trip.

By Kim Ji-eun, staff reporter

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