Anchor: North Korea's nominal head of state will visit the South for the PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games. The presidential office welcomed the news and said Seoul will prepare various opportunities for the South and North's officials to communicate during their stay. 
Kim In-kyung has more.  

Report: North Korea will send its ceremonial head of state and other senior officials to South Korea this week for the upcoming Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang.

North Korea informed the South on Sunday night that Kim Yong-nam, the president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, will lead a 22-member delegation.

The presidential office immediately welcomed the news. Presidential spokesman Kim Eui-kyum said Monday that Kim Yong-nam is the highest-ever ranking North Korean official to visit South Korea. 

The spokesman said the move shows the North's sincerity toward the improvement of inter-Korean relations and the success of the PyeongChang Games and that Seoul would prepare various opportunities for officials from both sides to communicate during their stay.

Asked whether the North's parliamentary chief would meet with the South Korean president, the spokesman said the presidential office is currently discussing what kind of meetings could be held and will announce any decisions as soon as they are made.

A presidential official said on Monday that Moon will have natural encounters with Kim, beginning with the Olympic opening ceremony, but it has yet to be decided whether the two will hold a one-on-one meeting. 

Meanwhile, another top office official said it's unlikely that Kim will meet with U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, who will lead the U.S. delegation to Pyeongchang. The official said Pence appears to be passive about U.S.-North Korea dialogue while being set on maintaining a pressure and sanctions strategy against the North, but expressed hope for an opening. 

The North Korean delegation's three-day visit will start on Friday, when the opening ceremony will be held in Pyeongchang. The North said the delegation will include three officials and 18 support staff, but did not provide other details.
Kim In-kyung, KBS World Radio News.