Top North Korean officials visit Seoul
Top officials of the two Koreas meet for a rare meeting at a restaurant in Incheon. Kim Kwan-jin, national security director of the Blue House, third from left, and Hwang Pyong-so, the top political officer of the North Korean People’s Army, third from right, shake hands at the meeting.
Hwang Pyong-so, director of the General Political Bureau of Pyongyang's Korean People's Army, Choe Ryong-hae, a secretary of the Workers' Party's Central Committee, and Kim Yang-gon, a governing party secretary, were among the delegation.
Hwang is a rising star in the North's power elite. Known to be one of the closest confidants of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, Hwang was recently appointed to the post of vice chairman of the National Defense Commission.
The North Korean officials departed Pyongyang at 9 a.m. and arrived at Incheon International Airport around 10:10 a.m., the Unification Ministry said.
The ministry said Pyongyang informed Seoul of their travel plan Friday morning and Seoul accepted it later in the afternoon.
The North Korean officials had a lunch with South Korean officials and met with the country's national team.
They will attend the Asian Games' closing ceremony at 7 p.m.
The delegation will return to the North around 10 p.m.
BY SER MYO-JA myoja@joongang.co.kr
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with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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