Kim Jong-un's sister in South for historic 3-day trip

A private jet carrying North Korea’s high-level delegates for the PyeongChang Winter Olympics landed at Incheon International Airport, Friday. / Captured from YTN

• Published Feb 9, 2018 1:48 PM KST
• Updated Feb 9, 2018 1:48 PM KST

By Park Si-soo

A private jet carrying North Korea's high-level delegates for the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, including leader Kim Jong-un's younger sister Yo-jong and the reclusive state's nominal president Kim Yong-nam, landed here Friday. They will visit for three days.

The Russian-made "Chammae-1" jet touched down at Incheon International Airport at 1:47 p.m. after flying a direct route over the western coast of the peninsula. The white aircraft was emblazoned with "Democratic People's Republic of Korea," the North's official name, while its tailfin carried a North Korean emblem.

It is the first time any member of the North's ruling Kim family has visited South Korea since the end of the 1950-53 Korean War, sparking hopes that her historic visit will pave the way for a fundamental breakthrough on military tension on the Korean Peninsula.

Nearly 800 guards were at the airport to ensure the delegation's security.

Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon received Kim and other North Korean delegates. They chatted in the airport’s VIP reception room.

The delegation moved off in a motorcade of Hyundai Genesis sedans to a nearby station where they transferred to the KTX high-speed rail for the trip to PyeongChang to participate in the Olympic opening ceremony that will begin at 8 p.m.

President Moon Jae-in will host a lunch for the North Korean delegates at Cheong Wa Dae Saturday, during which the delegation could deliver North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's handwritten letter to Moon.

CNN raised the possibility that Yo-jong could invite Moon to North Korea "sometime this year" during the lunch. Citing several diplomatic sources, the U.S. news outlet said a potential invitation date she might suggest to Moon could be Aug. 15, Liberation Day celebrating Korea's independence from Japan's occupation in 1945. Both Koreas designate the day as a holiday.

It's unknown where the delegation will stay in South Korea. Details of their itinerary are also unknown.