Clapton play Korea?

Guitar legend invited for show despite issues

26 Feb 08 - Eric Clapton has been invited to play a concert in North Korea, despite the country’s nuclear ambitions being a cause for international concern.

The guitar legend is provisionally set to play the state capital Pyongyang in 2009, having agreed to the idea "in principle".

The New York Philharmonic orchestra will be performing there on Tuesday night (26 Feb).

Clapton's performance would be unusual as rock and pop are forbidden in the isolated state, because of their Western influences.

Classical music, on the other hand, is very popular.

A North Korean official told the Financial Times: "These cultural exchanges are a way of promoting understanding between countries.

"We want our music to be understood by the Western world, and we want our people to understand Western music."

Clapton will also be playing the Hard Rock Calling concerts in London's Hyde Park this summer, along with The Police.

Kelly Stooke