DPRK ready for unprecedented U.S. orchestra performance

PYONGYANG, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea(DPRK) said on Friday that it is ready for the first performance of a U.S. symphony orchestra in the capital of Pyongyang.

This is the first response from DPRK official media since the New York Philharmonic disclosed last December the details of its planned visit to Pyongyang, which will be the first cultural exchange event to build mutual trust and understanding between the DPRK and the United States.

"Now the theater is fully prepared for the successful performance of the New York Philharmonic," said the official Korean Central News Agency(KCNA), referring to the East Pyongyang Grand Theater where the orchestra is scheduled to perform on the coming Tuesday.

The theater, located by the River Taedong which flows through Pyongyang, "has been furnished with music stands, chairs for players, lighting and other facilities to suit the features of the performance of symphony orchestra," the KCNA said.