Posted on 02/25/2008 12:16:30 PM PST by rdl6989
PYONGYANG, North Korea - The New York Philharmonic arrived in North Korea on Monday on a historic trip as the most prominent American cultural institution to visit the nuclear-armed country, run by a regime that keeps its impoverished people among the world's most isolated.
North Korea made unprecedented accommodations for the orchestra, allowing a delegation of nearly 300 people, including musicians, staff and journalists to fly into Pyongyang on a chartered plane for 48 hours.
The Philharmonic's concert Tuesday will be broadcast live on North Korea's state-run TV and radio, unheard of in a country where all events are carefully choreographed to bolster the personality cult of leader Kim Jong Il.
The Philharmonic accepted the North's invitation to play last year, with the encouragement of the U.S. government, at a time of rare optimism in the long-running nuclear standoff involving the two countries. After successfully testing an atomic bomb in October 2006, North Korea shut down its main nuclear reactor in July and is working to disable it in exchange for aid and removal from U.S. terrorism and sanctions blacklists.
But disarmament has stalled this year because of what Washington says is North Korea's failure to give a full declaration of its atomic programs to be dismantled, something it promised to do under an international agreement.
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...
North Korea ping.
so much pavement, so few cars and people... what a nightmare
I don’t know. The documentary Team America showed the Film Actors Guild there for a visit too.
Maybe the north korean govt will hold them for hostage and propaganda like they did the crew of the Pueblo
I hope they brought food.
Well least Chia Pet won’t be so roaney
Just so sad and ronery!
Notice there isn’t a single instrument.
Rumor has it that they were eaten immediately upon arrival.
Well maybe those NY orchestra could stay there since Chia Pet so roaney LOL!
I’d rather bomb the Ronery Rogue but if we have to send them a “cultural exchange” team couldn’t we just send them Britney, Paris, and Lindsay??? I’m sure it would be much more exciting for the Chia Pet, and it would be a real win/win situation if he would keep them....
Only the Serbs should believe that (couldn't resist).
I wish this article would have said who’s paying for all the expenses of these 300 people. I certainly hope it’s NOT the American taxpayer!
everyone tune into 657khz for all the “fun” later tonight, Asia time.....
I really hope this is a beginning of the better ties between the North Korea and U.S.A. Just like the Ping-Pong Diplomacy did in the past.
Perhaps it’s better for me to see some displeased faces from the White House. Let see now, maybe Mr. Bush himself.
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