SEOUL, Aug. 19 (UPI) — A Slovenian rock band known for performing in Nazi uniforms made an appearance in North Korea on Wednesday and is expected to play again on Thursday.
The members of the group Laibach were invited to play in two concerts that are a celebration of North Korea’s 70th anniversary of liberation from Japanese colonial rule, The Telegraph reported on Wednesday.
Laibach was the name the Nazis used to refer to Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia, when it occupied the country during World War II. The band has been performing since 1980 and mixes industrial, martial and neoclassical musical styles.
North Korea state media outlet KCNA said on Wednesday the band performed in Bonghwa Art Theater in Pyongyang, and they played a wide range of tunes including songs from The Sound of Music, and the Korean folk tune Arirang.
South Korean news outlet Newsis reported the audience was a mix of Pyongyang residents, cultural exchange representatives from Europe, North Korea-based diplomats and tourists.
Travelers from outside the country were able to attend the concert through Beijing-based Koryo Tours but the event was unusual by North Korean standards.
“This is not the sort of music that North Koreans are usually exposed to,” Koryo Tours general manager Simon Cockerell told The Telegraph.
KCNA commended the Slovenian rock band and said the performers showed charismatic creativity, advanced playing skills that met the demands of the music, and demonstrated “good artistry.”
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