By Kim Sue-young
Staff Reporter

A North Korean symphony orchestra will perform in Britain in September, the Voice of America (VOA) reported Thursday.

Opera Diva Suzannah Clarke, chief of the North Korea Orchestra Project, was quoted as saying she hopes the event to be a peaceful occasion with South Korea and the United States also participating.

The 160-member orchestra, the first North Korean orchestra to perform in the European country, is expected to arrive in London on Sept. 15.

It will perform at the Westminster Methodist Central Hall in London on Sept. 17 and in the northeastern city of Middlesbrough two days later.

Stressing that Westminster hall is famous for holding the inaugural meeting of the United Nations and renowned politicians' speeches, Clarke said the venue symbolizing peace and embracement is suitable for the performance.

She has raised money to buy musical instruments for North Korean schools.

Clarke has also contacted the New York-based Korea Society, which has tried to promote a performance of the North Korean orchestra in the United States.

Clarke said she considered postponing the performance in London, if the United States would give a positive response.

The orchestra's concert tour to Seoul, the United States as well as Britain would be a good opportunity to deliver peaceful messages to the international society. But she said she was very disappointed to receive no responses from the United States.

Fred Carriere, vice president and executive director of the Korea Society, told the VOA that the atmosphere in the United States has yet to become ripe to invite the group.

He added he is still waiting for the proper time to have the orchestra play there but early October is most feasible since the new U.S. president will take office next January.

The New York Philharmonic performed in Pyongyang in February and the North Korean orchestra's return visit was expected to come as part of efforts to improve U.S.-North Korean relations.

ksy@koreatimes.co.kr