North Korea's Popular All-Female Band To Have 1st Foreign Gig In China

PYONGYANG, NORTH KOREA - DEC. 9: North Korea's popular all-female Moranbong Band will visit China to give its first concerts abroad later this week, official media in Pyongyang said Tuesday, in the latest sign of warming relations between the two countries. The band of about 20 members, known for sometimes wearing noticeably untraditional above-the-knee skirts and playing instruments such as electronic violins and cellos, was formed in 2012 following an order from North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The visit of the band and the country's State Merited Chorus will run from Thursday to next Tuesday, the official Korean Central News Agency said, without specifying where they will perform. KCNA said the visit will "contribute to deepening friendship and boosting the cultural and artistic exchanges between the peoples of the two countries." The sudden announcement about the performances was made a day after a senior Chinese Communist Party official responsible for dealing with North Korea expressed hope of bringing bilateral ties to a higher level. Song Tao, who recently became head of the Chinese ruling party's international department, conveyed Beijing's willingness to North Korea's Ambassador to China Ji Jae Ryong during their meeting on Monday, according to a statement by the party. Song was quoted as saying that he believes relations between the countries will "surely scale new heights" in the future through joint efforts. China's relations with North Korea seem to have warmed somewhat since it sent Liu Yunshan, the Communist Party's fifth-ranked leader, to Pyongyang in October. Liu was China's highest-ranking official to visit Pyongyang since North Korean leader Kim took power following the death of his father in December 2011. After a prolonged period of strained ties over North Korea's nuclear and missile programs, Liu held talks with Kim and attended events marking the 70th anniversary of the foundation of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea.