Victoria Siano
Co-Editor-in-Chief
On Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2018, North Korea agreed to send athletes to South Korea for the 2018 Winter Olympics, making it the first time in eight years that the North will participate in a Winter Olympics. After months of escalating tension over North Korea’s missile and nuclear programs, the agreement proves to be a significant breakthrough for the two countries.
The talks pertaining to this decision were held in the border city of Panmunjom, where South Korean cabinet minister Cho Myoung-gyon met with his northern counterpart, Ri Son-kwon. Upon his arrival at Panmunjom, Mr. Ri, taking a surprising course of action, decided to suggest that their talks be open to reporters. By doing so, it has been reported that he believed that it would prove to the people North Korea’s sincerity in improving its relationship with the South. To this, Mr. Cho agreed, but only to allowing the reporters to witness some, and not all, of the parts.
Upon its conclusion, South Korean officials set to work in preparation for their arrival. As of right now, they still have much to do, including determining the travel route and lodging of the North Korean delegation. Similarly, North Korean athletes wishing to participate in the games had to go through the qualification process. Although “wild-card entries” are still being accepted, due to the IOC’s flexibility with the country for having missed the Oct. 31 deadline, the only North Korean athletes that have officially qualified is a pairs figure skating team.
In addition to agreeing upon the North’s participation in the games, the two countries have also decided to march together during the opening ceremony, as well as to revive their program of temporarily reuniting elderly people who have not seen their cross-border relatives since the Korean War unofficially ended in 1953.
In a quote given to the New York Times, Mr. Chung Haesung, the vice minister of unification, had said of the two countries: “We told them that both sides should cooperate, based on mutual respect, and end any acts of raising tensions on the Korean Peninsula.”
