Hyon Song - wol ( center , front row ) visits a hotel in Seoul on Monday escorted by South Korean officials under heavy police presence . YonhapCriticism and concerns about Seoul ’ s actions in dealing with North Korea continue despite Cheong Wa Dae ’ s attempts to allay concerns . In a statement that began with the words “ Pyongyang , PyeongChang , pyeongwha ( peace in Korean ) ” senior presidential press secretary Yoon Young - chan on Sunday attempted to appease critics and highlight the Moon Jae - in administration ’ s plans . “ Voices of concern over North Korea ’ s participation in the PyeongChang Olympics and forming a unified women ’ s ice hockey team are being raised by the media and the political circle , ” Yoon said in the statement .   He went on to say that related concerns arise from hopes for the success of the games and that the presidential official will listen closely to criticisms . “ Despite such worries , ( I ) must point out that we must ( hold ) the PyeongChang Olympics successfully , and that North Korea ’ s participation in the Olympics will contribute to the success of the PyeongChang Olympics . ” A majority of the statement was dedicated to reiterating the Moon Jae - in administration ’ s hopes to use the inter - Korean talks on the Olympics to engage Pyongyang in a wider range of issues , including denuclearization . Pyongyang , however , has made it clear from early on that it has no intention of discussing denuclearization . Ri Son - gwon , Pyongyang ’ s chief delegate at the Jan . 9 talks , expressed displeasure at related South Korean media reports , and stated at the time that North Korea ’ s missile and nuclear programs are “ not an issue between South and North Korea . ” In an apparent attempt to address concerns about possible Seoul - Washington discord in related matters , Yoon ’ s statement included two mentions of US President Donald Trump . Referring to recent Moon - Trump telephone conversations , Yoon said that Trump ’ s expression of support for inter - Korean talks could be interpreted as the US leader backing Moon ’ s intentions to use the opportunity to resolve security issues on the peninsula . The two leaders spoke over the phone on Jan . 4 and Jan . 10 . During the earlier conversation , Trump reportedly said that he supports inter - Korean talks “ 100 percent , ” and that the US will not take any military action during the games in the later conversation . Yoon ’ s address on Sunday appears to have achieved little in the way of easing fears raised by the conservative bloc . Hong Joon - pyo , leader of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party , accused the government of placing the fate of the country in the hands of North Korean leader Kim Jong - un , claiming that pro - North Korean figures had taken over the government . “ ( The administration ) is being dragged around by Kim Jong - un ’ s false peace offensive and political show , turning the PyeongChang Olympics into the Pyongyang Olympics when completion of North Korean missile and nuclear programs is projected within three months , ” Hong said at his New Year ’ s press conference Monday . Critics of Seoul ’ s efforts to bring North Korea to the games have called the PyeongChang Olympics the “ Pyongyang Olympics , ” claiming that the games will only aid North Korea ’ s propaganda . The level of protection and courtesy provided to North Korea ’ s delegation is also raising eyebrows . The North Korean delegation -- a seven - member group led by the head of the Samjiyon Orchestra Hyon Song - wol -- inspected possible venues for performances by North Korean artists in Gangneung , Gangwon Province , and Seoul on Sunday and Monday , respectively . The delegation was provided with heavy police protection in both Seoul and Gangneung . In the process , South Korean officials were observed treating the North Korean delegation with unusual courtesy . A South Korean government official is said to have pushed aside a local journalist Sunday , cutting off questions being directed at Hyon , saying that she was “ feeling uncomfortable ” by the questions . Later in the day , a local official was heard joking with Hyon in Gangneung that had North Korea informed the South of the delegation ’ s visit , a larger venue would have been built . According to reports , Hyon was inspecting a gymnasium at the time , and had expressed dissatisfaction with its limited capacity . The banter has been taken by some here as being overly concerned with pleasing the North Korean delegation . Such minor developments aside , Seoul ’ s Ministry of Unification has yet to receive any explanation regarding delays in the North Korean delegation ’ s arrival in the South , adding fuel to views that Pyongyang has the upper hand . Hyon ’ s team was originally scheduled to arrive here on Saturday , but North Korea unilaterally called it off , only to dispatch officials on the following day . Some are taking their protests further . Led by Rep . Cho Won - jin of the one - seat Patriotic Party of Korea , a band of right - wing activities gathered at Seoul Station on Monday to protest North Korea ’ s involvement in the games . The Patriotic Party of Korea was formed by Cho in protest of mainstream conservatives ’ inaction in developments surrounding former President Park Geun - hye . Cho , the party ’ s only lawmaker and its chairman , claims that Park was framed and rejects the legitimacy of the Moon Jae - in administration . “ The patriotic citizens of South Korea oppose the Pyongyang Winter Olympics that promotes the North Korean regime , ” Cho said at the rally . Cho and his supporters also set fire to the North Korean flag and an enlarged photograph of North Korean leader Kim . The fire was immediately extinguished by police officers . By Choi He - suk ( cheesuk @ heraldcorp . com ) [ 코리아 헤럴드 ] [ K - POP HERALD ] [ 페이스북 ] <ⓒ KoreaHerald ( www . koreaherald . com ) 무단 전재 및 재 배포 금지 >