Mike Pence, the American vice-president, and Kim Jong-un’s sister, Kim Jo-yong, at the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics
The US vice president and Ms Kim both attended the opening ceremony of the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics on February 9.

They were expected to meet at the South Korean president’s official residence the following day. However, the North Korean delegation cancelled the meeting with less than two hours’ notice following days of denunciation by Mr Pence.  Mr Pence had spoken openly of his wish to quell enthusiasm about North Korea’s participation in the Games.Mr Pence met with defectors.  He also visited monuments to South Koreans killed by North Korea and brought as his guest the father of OttoWarmbier, an American student who died in unexplained circumstances after being convicted of vandalism in Pyongyang.

He repeated international demands that North Korea give up its nuclear weapons and promised new sanctions.