SEOUL, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's presidential Blue House on Monday hailed the visit by top legislator of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to South Korea for the 23rd Winter Olympics slated to kick off later this week.
Kim Eui-kyeom, spokesman for South Korean President Moon Jae-in, told a press briefing that the country welcomed the visit by the DPRK's high-ranking delegation, led by Kim Yong-nam, president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, to South Korea for the Winter Olympics.
The DPRK notified South Korea Sunday night of its decision to send its ranking delegation from Friday to Sunday. The delegation will include three delegates and 18 supporting officials.
The South Korea-hosted Winter Olympics are set to start from Friday at the country's east county of PyeongChang.
Kim said it would mark the first time that the DPRK's top legislator visits South Korea, becoming the highest-ranking official of the DPRK ever visiting South Korea.
The top legislator's trip to South Korea reflected Pyongyang's will to improve inter-Korean relations and make the PyeongChang Winter Olympics a success, the Blue House spokesman said.
The spokesman noted that the DPRK showed its sincere and earnest attitude by dispatching its top legislator, saying South Korea will warmly and courteously greet the DPRK's high-ranking delegation, including the top legislator, as a host country of the Winter Olympics.
He added that South Korea will prepare various communications opportunities for the visiting DPRK officials during their stay in South Korea, including the high-level inter-Korean talks.
The U.S. delegation, led by Vice President Mike Pence, will visit South Korea for the PyeongChang Winter Olympics.
A possibility cannot be ruled out for Pence to naturally meet with the DPRK's top legislator and other high-ranking officials during the Winter Olympic period.
During the telephone talks in January between President Moon and U.S. President Donald Trump, the leaders saw a possibility for the inter-Korean talks naturally leading to a dialogue between the United States and the DPRK for the denuclearized Korean Peninsula.
Moon and Trump held a phone conversation Friday night, when Moon expressed his wish that Pence's visit to South Korea for the Winter Olympics can become a significant turning point for the improved inter-Korean relations and peace on the Korean Peninsula.
South Korea and the DPRK held the first senior-level dialogue in about two years in January, in which Pyongyang agreed to send its athletes, cheering squad and art troupe to the South Korea-hosted Winter Olympics.
The two countries also agreed to let their athletes march together under a unified flag and cheer together for both athletes from the two sides.
According to Seoul's unification ministry, the DPRK will send its 140-member Samjiyon orchestra Tuesday on the Mangyongbong-92 ferry and use it as an accommodation for the art troupe.
The DPRK orchestra will hold two concerts, including one in Gangneung, an east city near PyeongChang, on Thursday and the other in the capital Seoul on Sunday.
Baik Tae-hyun, Seoul's unification ministry spokesman, told a press briefing that South Korea hailed the visit by the DPRK's high-ranking delegation, saying the country will provide necessary accommodations and guarantee security during their stay.
Baik said the South Korean government will prepare to let the DPRK delegation attend the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics as well as other competitions and events, while preparing to make it possible for high-ranking officials from the two Koreas to hold talks.
He expressed South Korea's anticipation that the DPRK delegation's visit to South Korea can make the PyeongChang Winter Olympics a successful "peace Olympic" while restoring inter-Korean relations and establishing peace on the Korean Peninsula.
