Rival political parties in South Korea have given mixed responses to an upcoming visit by North Korea’s ceremonial head of state during the PyeongChang Winter Games. 

In a written statement, the ruling Democratic Party spokesman Park Wan-joo welcomed the upcoming visit by Kim Yong-nam, the president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly. 

The party said the PyeongChang Games is a message of peace informing that a "precious seed of fire" has been made to light peace over the Korean Peninsula. 

However, Chang Je-won, chief spokesman for the largest opposition Liberty Korea Party, dismissed the visit by the North Korean official as ceremonial, arguing it rather shows that the North is not treating the PyeongChang Games significantly. 

He cautioned against finding excessive political significance out of the occasion, saying the government  will only be duped by the North’s ploys disguised as a peaceful overture.