North Korea's general reconnaissance bureau head Kim Yong Chol speaks during an emergency briefing for diplomats basing in North Korea, in Pyongyang August 21, 2015, in this photo released by Kyodo. / Reuters
BBC: Kim Yong-chol: North Korea's controversial Olympics delegate
General Kim Yong-chol will head North Korea's delegation to the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics closing ceremony on 25 February.
He is a controversial figure - and his upcoming visit has been met with hostility in South Korea.
During his time as military intelligence chief, Gen Kim was accused of masterminding attacks on the South Korea warship Cheonan and Yeonpyeong Island in 2010.
He was also linked to a cyber-attack on Sony Pictures in 2014 in a bid to block the release of The Interview, a comedy film based on the North Korean regime.
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Update #1: Controversial North Korean ex-spy chief to attend Olympic ceremony (Nikkei Asian Review)
Update #2: North Korea Is Sending Military Hardliner Kim Yong Chol to the Olympic Closing Ceremony. Here's What to Know (Time)
Update #3: AP EXPLAINS: What's N. Korea up to with provocative visit? (AP)
Update #4: Winter Olympics: North Korean official accused of ordering deadly attacks to attend closing ceremony (ABC News Online).
WNU Editor: The South Korean government's rational on why they approved his visit is to pursue peace .... South Korea says approved visit by sanctioned North Korean to pursue peace on peninsula (Business Insider/Reuters). But the families who lost ones because of him are upset .... Relatives Protest Visit By North Korea General Blamed For Warship Sinking (NDTV/AFP), the Moon Jae-in administration is being condemned by the opposition .... Moon slammed for accepting North’s visitor (Korea Joong-Ang Daily), and some want this North Korean visitor dead .... ‘Publicly hang & slice him to death’: S. Korean MPs want North’s delegate killed (RT).
