Former Spymaster to Lead North Korea’s Olympic Ceremony Delegation
In 2010, when two North Korean agents were caught in the South while on a mission to assassinate a high-ranking defector from the North,
they said they were dispatched by Mr. Kim’s General Bureau of Reconnaissance, the North’s main spy agency, South Korean officials said.
22, 2018
SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea said on Thursday that a high-ranking official, who many in the South believe orchestrated a deadly attack in 2010, would lead
a delegation to Sunday’s Winter Olympics closing ceremony in the South, another sign the two Koreas are trying to work out a road map toward improving ties.
He said he would meet the North Korean leader only if he was assured
that their meeting could produce progress in helping end North Korea’s nuclear weapons programs.
When visiting South Korea earlier this month to attend the Games’ opening ceremony, Vice President Mike Pence had planned to sit down with Kim Yo-jong in a meeting arranged by South Korea,
but the North Koreans backed out at the last minute, according to American officials.
Earlier this month, Kim Yo-jong, the sister of North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong-un, attended
the Games’ opening ceremony and met with President Moon Jae-in of South Korea.
In 2014, Mr. Kim, who is also a military general, led a delegation to discuss ending hostilities after North
and South Korean soldiers exchanged fire across the border.
Still, the South Korean government said on Thursday that it would allow Mr. Kim to lead the delegation across the border.
