| Feb.
1 | - The 32 North Korean athletes
led by North Korean Vice Sports Minister Won Gil Woo visit
South Korea
- They arrive in the South on a chartered
plane. South Korean skiers who visited the North’s
Masikryong Ski Resort for joint ski training board the plane
at Kalma Airport in North Korea’s eastern city of Wonsan,
and the plane arrives at Yangyang Airport on the South’s
east coast. |
| Feb. 2 |
- The ROK President says “I hope that
the momentum of improvement in inter-Korean relations
created through the PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games will
continue, thereby establishing lasting peace on the Korean
Peninsula, and that US Vice President Pence’s visit to South
Korea will serve as a turning point for this” (in a phone
call with US President Donald Trump).
|
| Feb. 4 | - North Korea
notifies South Korea that the four-member high-level
delegation led by Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium
of the Supreme People’s Assembly, and 18 support staff
members will visit the South from February 9 to 11.
|
| Feb. 4 | - North Korea’s IOC member Jang Woong
visits the South to participate in the annual IOC meeting
and the PyeongChang Olympic Games.
|
| Feb. 4 | - The unified
Korean women’s ice hockey team loses 3-1 to Sweden in a
warm-up match (Seonhak Ice Rink in Incheon).
|
| Feb. 5 |
- The ROK President states that the PyeongChang Olympics
will show people around the world that sports can transcend
the barrier of politics and ideology (Congratulatory speech
at the opening ceremony for the IOC meeting).
|
| Feb. 5 | - A
23-member advance team of North Korea’s performance group
arrives in the South (overland along the Gyeongui
line).
|
| Feb. 6 | - 114 members of the Samjiyon Orchestra
led by Hyon Song Wol visit the South (via the
Mangyongbong-92 ferry).
|
| Feb.
7 | - 280 North Korean people
including a cheerleading squad, taekwondo performers,
journalists, and National Olympics Committee members
including Sports Minister Kim Il Guk come to the South
(overland along the Gyeongui line).
|
| Feb. 7 | - North Korea
notifies the South of the names of 23 persons for the
high-level delegation scheduled to visit the South from
February 9 to 11.
- △Kim Yong Nam, president of the
Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly (chief delegate),
△ Kim Yo Jong, first vice director of the Central Committee
of the Workers’ Party of Korea; Choe Hwi, chairman of the
National Sports Guidance Committee; Ri Son Kwon, chairman of
the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Country
(delegates), and △ 16 support staff members and 3
journalists |
| Feb. 7 |
- South Korea’s National Assembly
adopts a resolution committing it to the successful hosting
of the PyeongChang Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games and
to the realization of the Olympic spirit.
- △ Restrain
itself from becoming embroiled in political confrontation
and conflicts, △ Support the government’s efforts to ensure
that the PyeongChang Olympics lead to lasting peace in the
region, and △ Call on the North to cooperate to bring peace
to the Korean Peninsula and ease tensions in Northeast
Asia |
| Feb. 7 | - The ROK government asks the UN Security
Council Sanctions Committee on North Korea for an exemption
to allow a sanctioned North Korean official to join the
North Korean high-level delegation’s visit to South
Korea.
|
| Feb. 8 | - North Korean athletes enter the
athletes’ village of the PyeongChang Olympic Games.
|
| Feb. 8 | - A cheerleading squad of 170 people from
the pro-Pyongyang General Association of Korean Residents in
Japan, known as Chongryon, starts entering the country
(three groups will visit South Korea one by one, and each
group will stay for 5 days and 4 nights).
|
| Feb. 8 | - North
Korea holds a military parade marking the 70th anniversary
of the founding of the Korean People’s Army in Pyongyang,
and the parade is recorded and broadcast.
|
| Feb. 8 | - North
Korea’s Samjiyon Orchestra performs in Gangneung at 20:00 at
the Gangneung Arts Center.
|
| Feb. 8 | - The UN Security
Council Sanctions Committee on North Korea approves the
exemption regarding the North Korean high-level delegation’s
visit to South Korea.
|
| Feb.
9 | - A special exhibition on
Manwoldae Palace in Gaeseong opens (from February 9 to March
18 at Korea Sangjidaekwallyeong High School in
Pyeongchang).
|
| Feb. 9 |
- The 22-member North Korean
high-level delegation to the PyeongChang Olympic Games
visits the South (arrives at Incheon Airport via a private
jet).
|
| Feb. 9 | - Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium
of the Supreme People’s Assembly, participates in a
reception hosted by South Korean President Moon Jae-in
before the opening ceremony of the Games.
|
| Feb. 9 | - The
taekwondo demonstration teams from South and North Korea
hold a joint performance during the pre-shows of the opening
ceremony for the PyeongChang Winter Olympics at the
PyeongChang Olympic Stadium.
|
| Feb. 9 | - South and North
Korean athletes enter the stadium together at the opening
ceremony of the PyeongChang Olympic Games.
- △(flag)
The flag of a unified Korean Peninsula, △(flag bearers)
South Korean bobsledder Won Yun-jong and North Korean hockey
player Hwang Chung Gum, △(song) Arirang |
| Feb. 10 | - The ROK
President meets with the North Korean high-level delegation
and hosts a luncheon (Cheongwadae).
- Kim Yo Jong,
first vice director of the Central Committee of the Workers’
Party of Korea, delivers Kim Jong Un’s letter to South
Korean President Moon and invites him to Pyongyang.
-
In response to the North’s invitation, President Moon says
“Let’s put it through by creating favorable
conditions.” |
| Feb. 10 |
- The taekwondo demonstration teams
from South and North Korea hold a joint performance at the
Gangwon Career Education Institute in Sokcho.
|
| Feb. 10 |
- ROK Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon holds a banquet
with the North Korean high-level delegation at Skybay
Gyeongpo Hotel in Gangneung.
|
| Feb. 10 | - The unified
Korean women’s ice hockey team loses 8-0 to Switzerland in a
preliminary-round match at the Kwandong Hockey Centre in
Gangneung.
- The ROK President and the First Lady
watch the match with the North Korean high-level
delegation. |
| Feb. 11 |
- The ROK Prime Minister has a
luncheon with the North Korean high-level delegation at the
Grand Walkerhill Seoul.
|
| Feb.
11 | - The presidential chief of
staff has a farewell dinner with the North Korean high-level
delegation at the Banyan Tree Club & Spa Seoul.
|
| Feb. 11 | - North Korea’s Samjiyon Orchestra
performs in Seoul at 19:00 at the National Theater of
Korea.
- The ROK President and the First Lady watch
the performance with the North Korean high-level
delegation. |
| Feb. 11 |
- The North’s high-level delegation
returns to Pyongyang via a private jet (depart from Incheon
International Airport).
|
| Feb.
12 | - North Korea’s Samjiyon
Orchestra returns to Pyongyang (overland along the Gyeongui
line).
|
| Feb. 12 | - The taekwondo demonstration teams from
South and North Korea hold a joint performance at Seoul City
Hall.
|
| Feb. 12 | - The unified Korean women’s ice hockey
team loses 8-1 to Sweden in a preliminary-round match at the
Kwandong Hockey Centre in Gangneung.
|
| Feb. 13 | - Kim Jong Un
is briefed on the results of the high-level delegation’s
visit to the South (KCNA, February 12).
- “Kim Jong Un
expressed satisfaction over it and expressed thanks to
Seoul, saying that it was very impressive for the South to
do its best to provide convenience for the North Korean
delegation.”
- Kim Jong Un emphasized that “it is
important to continue making good results by further
livening up the warm climate of reconciliation and dialogue,
and he set forth the orientation of the improvement of
inter-Korean relations and gave important instructions to
the relevant field to take practical measures for it.”
|
| Feb. 14 | - The ROK government decides to support
the Inter-Korean Cooperation Fund regarding North Korea’s
participation in the PyeongChang Olympic Games.
- The
South and North Exchange and Cooperation Promotion Council
voted for KRW 2.86 billion in support at its 291st meeting
to go towards ex-post settlement of expenses.
|
| Feb. 14 |
- The taekwondo demonstration teams from South and North
Korea hold a joint performance at MBC Sangam Hall.
|
| Feb. 14 | - The unified Korean women’s ice hockey
team loses 4-1 to Japan in a preliminary-round match at the
Kwandong Hockey Centre in Gangneung.
|
| Feb. 15 | - The North’s
taekwondo demonstration team returns to Pyongyang (overland
along the Gyeongui line).
|
| Feb. 18 | - The unified
Korean women’s ice hockey team loses 2-0 to Switzerland in
the classification matches for determining places 5 to 8 at
the Kwandong Hockey Centre in Gangneung.
|
| Feb. 18 | - North
Korea’s IOC member Jang Woong leaves the country.
|
| Feb. 20 |
- The unified Korean women’s ice hockey team loses 6-1 to
Sweden in the classification match for determining places 7
to 8 at the Kwandong Hockey Centre in Gangneung.
|
| Feb. 20 |
- The ROK President states, at a summit meeting with his
counterpart in Slovenia, that both North Korea and the US
seem to feel the need for dialogue.
|
| Feb. 20 | - In an
appearance before the National Assembly National Defense
Committee, the ROK Minister of National Defense says that he
will announce when the ROK-US joint exercise will be resumed
after the PyeongChang Paralympic Games end on March 18.
|
| Feb. 22 | - North Korea notifies the South of its
plan to send the 8-member high-level delegation to
participate in the closing ceremony of the PyeongChang
Olympic Games from February 25 to 27.
- △ Kim Yong
Chol, vice chairman of the Central Committee of the Workers’
Party of Korea (chief delegate), △ Ri Son Kwon, chairman of
the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Country
(delegate), △ an entourage of six people |
| Feb. 25 | - The
North’s 8-member high-level delegation led by Kim Yong Chol,
vice chairman of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party
of Korea, comes to the South to participate in the closing
ceremony of the PyeongChang Olympic Games (overland along
the Gyeongui line).
|
| Feb.
25 | - The ROK President meets
with the North Korean high-level delegation in Pyeongchang,
attended by the national security chief and the chief of the
National Intelligence Service. - The North’s high-level
delegation expresses willingness to engage in dialogue with
the US.
|
| Feb. 25 |
- The ROK Unification Minister has a
dinner with the North Korean high-level delegation in
Pyeongchang, attended by the Vice Unification Minister and
senior officials.
|
| Feb.
25 | - The ROK President
participates in the closing ceremony of the PyeongChang
Olympic Games.
- President Moon watches the ceremony
together with White House advisor Ivanka Trump and Kim Yong
Chol, vice chairman of the Central Committee of the Workers’
Party of Korea. |
| Feb. 26 |
- 299 North Korean people including
National Olympic Committee members, athletes, cheerleaders,
and journalists return to Pyongyang (overland along the
Gyeongui line).
|
| Feb. 26 |
- South Korea’s national security
chief has a luncheon with the North’s high-level delegation
at the Grand Walkerhill Seoul.
|
| Feb. 26 | - In a meeting
with China’s vice premier Liu Yandong, the ROK President
emphasizes that it is important for both the US and North
Korea to sit down with each other face to face as soon as
possible, saying that the United States needs to lower the
threshold for dialogue and North Korea should express a
willingness to denuclearize.
|
| Feb. 26 | - The Emergency
Measure Committee of the Gaeseong Industrial Complex Tenant
Companies submits an application to visit the North on
behalf of 200 people who want to visit the North on March
12.
|
| Feb. 26 | - At a meeting of the UN Human Rights
Council, the South Korean Foreign Minister states that North
Korea should give up its nuclear and missile programs and
should go down a different path with regard to military
security and human rights issues.
|
| Feb. 27 | - The ROK
Unification Minister has a breakfast with the North’s
high-level delegation at the Grand Walkerhill Seoul.
|
| Feb. 27 | - The North Korean high-level delegation
returns to Pyongyang (overland along the Gyeongui
line).
|
| Feb. 27 | - Working-level talks for the PyeongChang
Paralympic Games are held on the North’s side of the border
village of Panmunjeom.
- South Korean delegates: Lee
Joo-tae, director general for inter-Korean exchange and
cooperation at the Unification Ministry (chief delegate);
Lim Chan-kyu, director of the PyeongChang Paralympic Winter
Games committee; and Song Hye-jin, a director-level official
from the Unification Ministry
- North Korean
delegates: Hwang Chung Song, director of the Committee for
Peaceful Reunification of the Country (chief delegate); Jong
Hyon, vice-chairperson of the Central Committee of the
Korean Federation for the Protection of the Disabled; and
Yun Chol, vice-secretary general of the (North) Korean
Sports Association for the Disabled
- Joint press
release: North Korea will send the Paralympic delegates and
athletes to the South on March 7 (overland along the
Gyeongui line) and they will return to Pyongyang at a time
that is convenient for both sides. |
