North Korean Vice Premier Ri Ryong Nam and Vice Foreign Minister Choe Hui Chol arrived in Beijing by air, Kyodo News confirmed, with official media reporting that Ri will take part in the opening ceremony in Indonesia of the Asian Games.

The high-ranking officials were escorted to a Chinese government car at Beijing Capital International Airport earlier in the day. During their stay in Beijing, they may hold talks with Chinese officials, diplomatic sources said.

According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency, the delegation led by Ri is scheduled to attend the opening ceremony in Jakarta on Saturday of the 18th Asian Games.

The Indonesian government had invited North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to participate in the ceremony.

Just like they did at February's Pyeongchang Olympics, North and South Korean athletes will be in the spotlight at the games, marching together under a unified flag in the opening ceremony. They will also field joint teams in basketball, rowing and canoe.