Instead, for the next half-century, the fragile armistice was constantly threatened by the rampingup of military armament levels and the gradual intrusion of nuclear weapons into the equation. When, in October 2006, North Korea conducted its first nuclear test, prospects for a resolution of the North-South conflict seemed more remote than ever.
And yet behind the scenes a series of covert orchestral manoeuvres was happening. ‘We have just very recently received an inquiry about the possibility of the New York Philharmonic performing in Pyongyang,’ announced a spokesman for the orchestra in August 2007. The communication, though routed through an ‘independent representative’, came from the North Korean Ministry of Culture. ‘We will explore the possibility of this as we would any other invitation,’ the spokesman dryly noted.
This story is from the February 2024 edition of BBC Music Magazine.
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This story is from the February 2024 edition of BBC Music Magazine.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
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