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The Vice President of the United States, Mike Pence, briefly participated on Friday in the reception that marks the start of the Winter Olympic Games, avoiding a potentially uncomfortable meeting with the ceremonial leader of North Korea.
The reception, led by South Korean President Moon Jae-in in PyeongChang, marks months of work by Seoul, which wants the sporting event, to be held from February 18 to 25, to alleviate in some way the tension caused by North Korea's nuclear aspirations.
Prior to the reception, South Korean media reported that Pence would be sitting across from Kim Yong Nam, the nominal head of state of North Korea, at the main table. However, the Blue House informed that Pence would meet with American athletes and planned to stay for a short time to greet other diplomats.
Pence shook hands with several leaders - including Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe - but not with Kim Yong Nam, according to the Blue House.
Earlier on Friday, the US vice president told the media that Moon supported the additional measures that the United States plans to take to contain Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programs.
Kim Yong Nam arrived in South Korea on Friday along with Kim Yo Jong, the younger sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Kim Yo Jong and her delegation were received by government authorities, including Minister of Unification Cho Myong-gyon, before heading to Pyeongchang.
The leader's sister, 28, is the first member of the Kim family to visit South Korea, while Kim Yong Nam is the highest-ranking North Korean official to make a cross-border visit. Both will have lunch with Moon on Saturday, according to the South Korean leader's office.
Pence, Kim Yo Jong, and other world leaders will later attend the opening ceremony of the Games in Pyeongchang, which is located about 80 kilometers from the border between North and South Korea.
Source: Reuters