Musicians of two Koreas to push for joint orchestra performances

(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead; ADDS background info in last four paras)
SEOUL (Yonhap) - A prominent South Korean conductor said Friday he forged an agreement with Pyongyang artists to push for joint performances of the two Koreas' symphony orchestras on a regular basis.
Chung Myung-whun, who leads the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra and also serves as a UNICEF "goodwill ambassador," returned home Thursday after a four-day trip to North Korea aimed at promoting cultural exchanges and easing tensions. He was accompanied by two senior Seoul orchestra officials.
"We agreed to push for a regular performance of a joint symphony orchestra of the two Koreas," Chung told reporters.
The performances, if realized, will be alternately held in Seoul and Pyongyang, and the orchestra will be composed of the same number of players from each side, he said.
The 59-year-old maestro also said he agreed to run a program to cultivate young, up-and-coming North Korean musicians.
During his stay in Pyongyang, Chung conducted performances by the North's State Symphony Orchestra and the Unhasu Orchestra, according to the North's official Korean Central News Agency.
His trip comes amid lingering tensions over North Korea's two deadly attacks on the South last year.
Seoul imposed sanctions on the North last year in retaliation for the sinking of its warship, which was blamed on the North. Still, South Korea has selectively approved trips to the North by its citizens and humanitarian aid to the North.
South Koreans are not allowed to travel to North Korea without government approval.