Mike Pence sat surprisingly close to Kim Jong Un’s sister at the Winter Olympics opening ceremony

Associated Press

The opening ceremony of the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang on Friday brought together leaders from around the world, with the US seated near Japan, Germany, South Korea, and, surprisingly, North Korea.

Kim Jong Un’s sister, Kim Yo Jong, was there — the first member of the North’s ruling family to visit the South since 1953. She attended the ceremony along with the head of the North’s Olympic delegation, 90-year-old Kim Yong Nam, who leads North Korea’s parliament.

But Kim Yo Jong didn’t speak or shake hands with US Vice President Mike Pence, who was there with the Second Lady, Karen Pence. Pence had also avoided shaking hands with or sitting next to Kim Yong Nam at a reception before the start of the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics.

Pence reportedly didn’t have to sit in the box with the North Koreans — but he wanted to make a political point.

Here’s what happened: