Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon says it is regrettable that a North Korean military parade is set to be held ahead of Friday’s opening ceremony of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics. 

Lee made the remark during the National Assembly’s interpellation session on Monday after Representative Ahn Sang-soo of the largest opposition Liberty Korea Party asked him whether the government asked Pyongyang to stop or postpone the parade marking the 70th anniversary of the North Korean military. 

Lee said it's not desirable for the North to conduct the military parade as the South is poised to hold the sporting festival, and that the government is keenly watching how the North Korean event will unfold. 

Pointing to media reports that the North is not allowing foreign press to cover the military parade, the prime minister said the North seems to give the impression that it does not want to provoke the international community.