We start with the arrival of more North Koreans ahead of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics.<br />A North Korean cultural group is due to arrive in South Korea via ferry in the coming hours ahead of two highly-anticipated performances -- one in the sub host city of Gangneung and the other in Seoul.<br />Ji Myung-kil starts us off. <br /> The North Korean art troupe comprising 140 orchestra musicians, dancers and singers will arrive in South Korea Tuesday afternoon on board a ferry called the Mangyongbong.<br /> The ship will arrive in South Korea at Mukho port in the city of Donghae on the east coast.<br /><br /> "The North Koreans are coming to South Korea onboard the ferry Mangyongbong 92. They will be using it not only as a means of transportation but also as accommodation during the concert period in Gangneung."<br /><br />Using the ship as lodging for them... is also a way for the North to keep the artists from having contact with South Koreans.<br /> Seoul has temporarily lifted its ban on all North Korean ships entering its waters to allow the ship to come.<br />The Mangyongbong 92 itself is not one of the North Korean vessels blacklisted by the United Nations or the U.S. on suspicion of involvement in Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program.<br /><br /> The ferry is being escorted by a South Korean ship near the maritime border in the East Sea and will sail to Mukho port under convoy.<br /><br /> The North Korean artists will perform on Thursday in the city of Gangneung on the eve of the Winter Olympics.<br />Gangneung is hosting Olympic events including women's ice hockey in which the two Koreas will compete as a joint team... a first in Olympic history.<br /> The troupe will perform again on Sunday at the National Theater of Korea in Seoul.<br />Ji Myung-kil, Arirang News. <br />
