The New York Philharmonic has invited six North Korean musicians to join the orchestra in playing the Korean folk song "Arirang" as an encore Tuesday evening.

Maestro Lorin Maazel said he requested the joint performance after listening to the welcoming concert by the North's State Symphony Orchestra on Monday.

He added that the North Korean performers rehearsed with his orchestra in the morning.

The conductor said he hoped the two countries will see expanded social exchanges in the near future. He suggested that American singing groups, opera and dance troupes, authors and scientists could visit the isolated country in the future.

Zarin Mehta, president and executive director of New York Philharmonic Orchestra, said he did not know whether North Korean leader Kim Jong-il would attend the performance in Pyongyang.