Kim Jong-un’s sister to join North Korea’s delegates for peace talks with South Korea
North Korea’s late confirmation of its delegates list triggered a last-minute expansion of South Korea’s team ahead of the two leaders’ historic meeting in the demilitarised zone
Kim Jong-un’s younger sister, Kim Yo-jong, and senior aides are to join the North Korean leader at his historic summit meeting with South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Friday, with peace in the Korean peninsula hanging in the balance.
North Korea confirmed its delegates list only on Thursday. After learning who Kim intended to bring with him to the inter-Korean parley, South Korea then expanded its list in a last-minute move.
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The two leaders are to meet at the truce village of Panmunjom in the demilitarised zone that has separated North and South Korea for 65 years. It will be just the third sit-down between the two Koreas since the 1953 armistice that ended the Korean war.
Kim Yo-jong’s addition to the North Korean delegation points to her growing stature in the wake of her appearance at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics in February where she spearheaded the North’s charm offensive and became the first member of her family to visit South Korea.
North Korea’s delegates:
Kim Yong-nam, the nominal head of state