South Korean rapper-singer Psy will not perform at two upcoming inter-Korean concerts in the DPRK capital despite attempts by Seoul to include him in the line-up, the ROK’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) announced on Tuesday.

Multiple South Korean media outlets on Monday suggested that the Moon administration had sought to add Psy – most widely known for his record-breaking 2012 hit “Gangnam Style” – to the roster.

Pyongyang reportedly expressed disapproval, however.

“We initially considered the way to work together with Psy, but he stayed out [of the event] this time,” Hwang Seong-woon, spokesperson for the MCST,