- Ivanka Trump landed in South Korea on Friday.
- The South Korean president plans to greet her in person, and accompany her to a skiing event at the Winter Olympics, local media reported earlier this week.
- The country has no diplomatic obligation to host her with such grandeur, but is “considering exceptional measures” to influence President Trump.
- They want to flatter Ivanka so she can persuade her father to visit North Korea.
Ivanka Trump has landed in South Korea, where she is expected to receive a lavish reception usually reserved for a first lady of head of state.
The daughter of the US president arrived in Incheon on Friday afternoon to attend the closing ceremony of the Winter Olympics, which takes place on February 25. Her arrival was covered live on South Korean TV.
South Korean officials plan to roll out the red carpet for her — with the ultimate goal of lobbying her father, Donald Trump, to visit North Korea on a diplomatic trip, South Korean newspaper The Chosun Ilbo reported on Monday.
According to The Chosun Ilbo, officials plan to flatter Ivanka by having South Korean President Moon Jae In accompany her to watch a skiing competition, and by getting First Lady Kim Jung Sook to show her round the country. Ivanka is a keen skier herself, and has hit the slopes at least twice since her father took office.
While in South Korea, Ivanka will also be given a banquet at the Blue House, the president’s official residence, The Washington Post’s Anna Fifield tweeted. Guests will reportedly be served “kosher feast” that includes Korean food to “symbolise harmony.”
Officials reportedly also want to “lavish” her three children with presents.
Although Seoul has no diplomatic obligation to host the president’s child on such a grand level, officials are “considering exceptional measures” because of Ivanka’s influence in the White House, an unnamed South Korean government official told The Chosun Ilbo.
By comparison, Vice President Mike Pence wasn’t given such a warm welcome when he arrived in South Korea to open the Winter Olympics two weeks ago.
The Chosun Ilbo said: “The government apparently wants to soften her up so [Donald] Trump agrees to a mooted visit to Pyongyang by President Moon Jae In.”
Seoul is rolling out the red carpet for Ivanka “on the assumption that she is to all intents and purposes the first lady of the US rather than Trump’s reluctant wife Melania,” The Chosun Ilbo added.
South Korea has been actively pushing for peace on the Korean peninsula. Earlier this month President Moon met with Kim Jong Un’s sister, Kim Yo Jong, and pledged to “creating the necessary conditions in the future” for him to visit the North.
The US has also expressed willingness to negotiate with Kim Jong Un, but vowed to maintain a “maximum pressure” approach until Pyongyang reached out.
Ivanka, however, has no plans to meet North Korean defectors or officials — including Kim Yo Jong, who has been dubbed “the Ivanka Trump of North Korea” — during her visit.
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