North Korea Scraps Joint Olympic Cultural Event With South Korea
- Performance with South was planned for Feb. 4 at Mt. Kumgang
- Pyongyang blames South Korea’s media for decision to cancel
North Korean women's ice hockey players arrive at the CIQ (Customs, Immigration and Quarantine) office near the demilitarized zone in Paju on Jan. 25.
Photographer: Pool/Getty Images
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North Korea canceled a joint cultural performance with South Korea at a mountain resort north of the border, blaming the media in Seoul for “defaming” its position on next month’s Winter Olympics.
South Korea called the decision to scrap the Feb. 4 event at Mount Kumgang “regretful,” according to a statement issued by its Unification Ministry. The statement said North Korea also cited criticism of an “internal celebration event,” which appeared to be a reference to speculation that it will hold a large-scale military parade in Pyongyang on the eve of the Games.