North Korean Olympians arrive in South Korea

A group of North Korean athletes arrived in South Korea on Thursday ahead of the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang this month, according to multiple reports. 

Ten North Korean skaters and skiers arrived on a South Korean flight amid an increased dialogue between the two countries. Non-Olympic South Korean skiers who had visited a North Korean ski resort last month flew back on the same plane. 

It is highly unusual for North Koreans to travel on a South Korean plane, according to The Associated Press, which noted most travelers cross at the land border between the two countries. 

{mosads}The North Korean athletes who traveled on Thursday are part of the second and final delegation sent for the games. 

Twelve North Korean female hockey players traveled to South Korea last week to be part of the first unified North and South Korean Olympic team. 

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said in his New Year’s address last month that he would be open to sending athletes to the games, leading to talks between representatives of the two countries. 

Tensions have grown between North Korea and the international community during the past year due to Pyongyang’s growing nuclear weapons program. 

President Trump issued a dire warning on North Korea during his State of the Union address on Tuesday, saying it could soon directly threaten the U.S. 

“North Korea’s reckless pursuit of nuclear missiles could very soon threaten our homeland. We are waging a campaign of maximum pressure to prevent that from ever happening,” Trump said.