Vice President Mike Pence in order to avoid an encounter with the ceremonial leader of North Korea made only a brief appearance at the reception that marked the start of the Winter Olympics on Friday.
South Korean President Moon Jae-in hosted the reception in the mountain resort of Pyeongchang, where it was reported by South Korean media that at the 12-seat head table, Pence was expected to be seated opposite of Kim Yong-nam, North Korea’s nominal head of state.
Pence’s excuse for not attending the full reception was that he had a meeting scheduled with the U.S. athletes.
During the short period, he was at the reception Pence shook hands with several world leaders, including close ally Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, but he ignored Kim Yong-nam.
Pence on Friday said that Moon supported the additional measures Washington is going to impose on North Korea hoping it will pressure them enough to cancel their missile and nuclear programs.
According to Reuters, Pence spoke after paying tribute at a memorial for 46 South Korean sailors killed in the sinking of a warship in 2010 that Seoul blamed on a North Korean torpedo attack.
South Korea news media reported that Kim Yong Nam landed in South Korea on Friday together with leader Kim Jong-un’s younger sister, Kim Yo Jong, aboard her brother’s private jet.
South Korea’s presidential Blue House reported that during the airport reception the North Korean delegation was greeted by government officials before boarding a special bullet train to Pyeongchang reserved only for them. Kim Yo Jong smiled at the camera flashes while wearing a black coat, matching ankle boots and carried a black purse.
Kim Yo-jong is the first member of North Korea’s ruling family that visited the South, while Kim Yong-nam is the most senior North Korean official to cross the border. Both of them are set to have launched with Moon on Saturday.
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