By KJ Kwon and Ben Brumfield, CNN
With Kim Jong Un out of sight for a month, a covey of North Korea's high officials popped down to South Korea for a last minute jaunt on Saturday.
Their sudden appearance and red-carpet treatment by South Korean officials caused a media flurry. South Korean television network YTN followed the delegation's moves with extensive live coverage.
The head of North Korea's military and two ranking members of the ruling Workers' Party gave Seoul short notice on Friday that they were officially dropping in to attend the closing ceremonies of the Asian Games in the city of Incheon.
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The South granted permission the same day to Hwang Pyong-so, Vice Marshal of the Korean People's Army, Kim Yang-gon and Choe Ryong-hae.
Kim is one of the top politicians responsible for dealings with the South.
Choe is the former head of the military but was replaced in May, triggering some speculation in the international press that he may have fallen out of favor with the "Dear Leader." But South Korean analysts say that he remains extremely influential.
He holds a seat as Secretary on the Workers' Party's Central Committee, its highest decision making body, and commands preeminent authority over civilian affairs.
Choe is also chair of Pyongyang's Sports Guidance Commission.
The sports sojourn was followed by a lunch with South Korean officials, and Seoul's reunification minister greeted the North Koreans at their hotel.
North Korea's dictator Kim has been conspicuously absent even from important state events, and Pyongyang officials have said that he is "suffering from discomfort."
On Thursday, Kim was conspicuously absent from the Supreme People's Assembly, which is North Korea's parliament attended by officials of the party, the military and various national organizations. A prominent seat remained empty on stage surrounded by North Korea's top brass.
Surprise visits by North Korean officials have occurred in the past but are rare.
The three officials are to depart back to Pyongyang on Saturday evening local time.
In recent days, North Korea's official news agency, a government propaganda organ, has blasted South Korean President Park Geun-hye over her criticism of the communist North's human rights record, calling her a "top class confrontational manic and modern day traitor."
http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/04/world/asia/north-korea-officials-surprise-visit/index.html
