N.Y. Phil to perform in North Korea

The New York Philharmonic has decided to perform in North Korea, a cultural breakthrough as tense relations between the United States and the reclusive communist nation ease, the orchestra's president said Monday. The concert will be Feb. 26, said Zarin Mehta, the Philharmonic's president and executive director. He declined to provide further details, saying a formal announcement of the trip is scheduled for today.

State Department spokesman Gonzalo Gallegos said the department would support such a trip because the United States and North Korea had agreed in October, as part of denuclearization talks, to promote and increase bilateral exchanges. The Philharmonic's decision to go to North Korea was first reported by the New York Times.