February 27, 2008	Wednesday	Safar 19, 1429

PYONGYANG, Feb 26: The oldest US orchestra on Tuesday gave an unprecedented concert in hermit North Korea that both sides say they hope will bring a little harmony to relations between the Cold War foes.

The concert, which includes works by Richard Wagner, Antonin Dvorak and George Gershwin, comes as North Korea drags its feet over demands to hold to its side of an international disarmament deal and own up to everything it has been doing over the years to develop nuclear weapons.

“We feel this opportunity will deepen a better understanding and trust between the two countries,” Pak Su-mi, a guide, told foreign visitors to the Great People’s Study House, where North Koreans are allowed a highly restricted glimpse of the Internet using outdated computers.

Pak, speaking in English, was in traditional Korean dress and wore a badge — as do most North Korean adults — with a portrait of Kim Il-sung, the isolated state’s founding leader and who became its president for eternity after his death in 1994.

Executive director of the New York Philharmonic, Zarin Mehta, echoed her comments, saying officials from both sides hoped the biggest US group to visit since the 1950-53 Korean War would help normalise relations between the long-time foes.

“We have received the same message from the DPRK (North Korean) side that they wish to establish good relations,” Mehta told reporters in the first news conference ever to be broadcast live outside the secretive state.

Mehta said six North Korean musicians had been invited to play one piece with the orchestra during the concert, which was shown live on North Korea’s only television channel.

Discussions for the concert first emerged last year as significant progress was made in six-way nuclear negotiations among the two Koreas, China, Japan, Russia and the United States.

Analysts say Washington sees this visit as akin to cultural overtures it made to other Cold War foes decades ago and which eventually helped to ease tension.—Reuters