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N.Y. Philharmonic Invite To N. Korea Touches Nerve

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Oct 15, 2007 5:10 pm US/Eastern

N.Y. Philharmonic Invite To N. Korea Touches Nerve

Mayor Bloomberg Calls Story A Media Creation

NEW YORK (CBS) ― It makes some of the world's most beautiful music, but Monday the New York Philharmonic created a lot of noise about a possible performance in North Korea next year.

Officials traveled to the communist country last week. This, though the Bush administration has branded it a terrorist state.

Congressman Vito Fossella, R-Staten Island, said he wants the idea shelved.

"It's ironic North Korea kicks out nuclear inspectors but invites musicians into the country," Fossella said.

Some New Yorkers fear the trip would hand a propaganda victory to the country's dictator, Kim Jong Il.

"It's a rogue state and we shouldn't be acknowledging them at all, especially something like this," construction worker John Nash said.

But others feel it's a matter of artistic freedom.

"We can't just isolate them and isolate ourselves," attorney Malcolm Spector said. "We have to find common ground and try to understand them."

Mayor Michael Bloomberg brushed the issue aside, suggesting it was a creation of the media.

"When it comes to the arts they're perfectly capable of deciding where they should be, and you're perfectly capable of making a story out of it," Bloomberg said.

If the company makes this trip, it'll likely take place next February, but there hasn't been a decision on this, and there won't be one for another month. 

Relations between the U.S. and North Korea have softened a bit recently, and the Bush administration is not opposing the trip.

In fact, a State Department official accompanied Philharmonic officials to North Korea last week.


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