The oldest symphony orchestra in the United States today played a concert in isolated North Korea.
Members of the New York Philharmonic wave to the audience after finishing their concert at the Grand Theatre in the North Korean capital of Pyongyang February 26, 2008. REUTERS/David Gray
Both countries hope the New York Philharmonic's concert will bring a little harmony to relations between the bitter foes.
North Korea's solitary television station broadcast the concert live to a population taught to view all things foreign with deep suspicion, especially if they come from the United States.
But any sign of the 60 years of enmity was kept well out of sight as the orchestra opened the performance with both national anthems, North Korea's first.
"Please enjoy," conductor Lorin Maazel said in Korean to huge applause from the audience before the orchestra played George Gershwin's "An American in Paris".
The audience of top cadres gave a standing ovation at the end of the more than 90-minute performance in the packed East Pyongyang Grand Theatre.
The flags of both countries stood on the stage.
The concert has come as North Korea drags its feet over demands to hold to its side of an international disarmament deal and own up to its nuclear-weapons development.