While in Pyongyang, Moon's envoys watched S. Korean TV channels freely

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's wife Ri Sol-ju shakes hands with Chung Eui-yong, who led South Korean President Moon Jae-in's envoys, before a dinner at the Workers' Party of Korea headquarters in Pyongyang, Monday. / Yonhap

By Kim Rahn

President Moon Jae-in's envoys to North Korea could watch South Korean and foreign broadcasts and use South Korean portal sites at their lodging, a Cheong Wa Dae official said Thursday.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was also well aware of his image and assessment portrayed by foreign media.

The special envoys, who visited Pyongyang from Monday to Tuesday, said they were not intensely guarded at their lodging, Kobangsan Guest House, using a whole floor of the resort and allowed to walk freely in the resort compound.

In their rooms, dozens of international TV channels were available, including South Korea's KBS, MBC and YTN as well as the U.S.' CNN and China's CCTV, the official quoted the envoys as saying.

"They said they could use South Korean portals, such as Naver and Daum, on the computer in the room," the official said on condition of anonymity.

According to the envoys, the North Korean leader was well aware of his image described by foreign media, which was not favorable to him, but he talked about it lightly and even with jokes.

The envoys said Kim showed many unexpected ― positively unexpected ― actions. They expected they would meet him on the second day, but upon arrival in Pyongyang, they were told they would meet him that evening.

At the meeting at the headquarters of the Workers' Party of Korea, Kim and his sister Kim Yo-jong greeted them at the entrance. The meeting also finished smoothly after only about an hour, as Kim had prepared almost all responses to Moon's earlier proposals and opinions relayed by Kim Yo-jong after her visit to the South in February.

After the meeting, the envoys moved to another room in the building for dinner, and Kim and his wife Ri Sol-ju were waiting for them outside the room.

Kim Yo-jong, who had met some of the five members of the envoys during her Seoul visit, was friendly and thoughtful to them during the dinner, asking them whether they liked the food.

"During her visit here, South Korean officials asked her about famous North Korean foods, such as onban (rice in chicken soup) and Pyongyang naengmyeon (cold noodles). And the envoys were served onban at the dinner, and naengmyeon at the lunch the next day," the official said.

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