Winter Olympics, opportunity to mend inter-Korean relations
Hong Van -
(VOVWORLD) - The 2018 Winter Olympics will open in Pyongchang, South Korea, on Friday. The 17-day event is not just a sports competition but also an opportunity for the two Koreas to improve their ties. North Korea’s sending its officials and athletes to the event isseen by many as a hopeful sign.
On January 17 the two Koreas agreed on North Korea’s participation in the 2018 Winter Olympics. The two will participate in a joint parade and form a joint women’s ice hockey team. This will be the 4th time the two have paraded together at an Olympics. They have previously organized joint teams for table tennis and football competitions, but have never before formed a joint team at any Olympics.
Inter-Korean ties improved
On Wednesday a 280-member delegation from North Korea led by Minister of Sports Kim Il Guk arrived in South Korea. Another high-ranking delegation led by National Assembly Speaker Kim Yong-nam, one of North Korea’s most powerful figures, is expected to visit South Korea on Friday for the opening of the Winter Olympics. Mr. Kim will be the highest-level North Korean official ever to visit South Korea. He will be accompanied by Kim Yo-Jong, Kim Jong Un’s younger sister, who is now Vice Head of the Propaganda Committee of the North Korean Labor Party.
South Korean leaders are praising these visits, saying they reflect North Korea’s desire to improve bilateral ties and ease tensions on the Korean peninsula.
South Korea’s Unification Ministry said on Monday that Seoul is preparing for inter-Korean dialogues which are likely to be held during the North Korean delegation’s visit to the South. President Moon Jae-in is considering a direct meeting with Kim Yong-nam.
The US has left open the possibility of meeting with North Korean officials while they are in the South.
Challenges remain
US Vice President Mike Pence said on Wednesday during a visit to Japan that Washington will soon impose tougher economic sanctions on Pyongyang to push for complete, verifiable and irreversible disarmament of the North’s nuclear program.
North Korea has over the past few days been blocking off streets in Pyongyang to prepare for a military parade to celebrate the 70th anniversary of its armed forces. North Korea has decided to celebrate the founding of its army on February 8 instead of April 25. The parade will be an opportunity for the North to show off its military strength, including several long-range missiles and aircraft. The North Korean Foreign Ministry said its delegation is not ready to meet the US in the South.
The inter-Korean relationship has thawed since North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, in his New Year message, signaled his willingness to improve ties with the South. The North’s participation in Pyongchang Winter Olympics is seen as part of this effort.
Hong Van