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U.S. Vice President, Mike Pence has avoided having any sort of encounter with the North Korean delegate as he attended the opening ceremony of the winter Olympic games hosted by South Korea. 

Mr Pence only appeared for a brief period, and would have been seated opposite the ceremonial head of state, kim Yong-nam at a dinner, held hours to the opening ceremony in the mountain resort of Pyeongchang. The US Vice president instead opted to visited the US athletic team participating in the games.

On Friday, Mike Pence told reporters that President Moon gave his support to additional US sanctions expected to force North Korea's to check missile and nuclear programs.  The father of a young American who died from treatment sustained while imprisoned by North Korea, Fred Warmbier, was a guest of the US vice president.

At the opening ceremony, Mike Pence seated close to both Kim Yo-jong, Kim Jong Un's sister and Kim Yong-nam, watched as both athletes from North and South Korea marched under on flag, drawing excitement and applause from the spectators.

According to South Korea's Blue House, Pence shook hands with the leaders of allied nations but not Kim Yong-nam. South Korea's President shook hand with Kim Yo-jong and Kim Yong-nam.

South Korea's president, Moon Jae-in, who hopes to open dialogue with the North Korean delegation, officially declared the games open and said he hoped the Winter Olympics would be remembered as the "day peace began".