2018 PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games

UN Allows Sanctioned N. Korean Official to Attend Olympics: The UN Security Council(UNSC) on Thursday cleared a blacklisted North Korean official to visit South Korea for the PyeongChang Winter Olympics. The UNSC Sanctions Committee on North Korea granted the temporary exemption for Choe Hwi, the chairman of the North's National Sports Guidance Committee. Choe was slapped with the travel ban last June under UN Security Council Resolution 2365 that sanctioned Pyongyang for its ballistic missile tests. Ambassador Karel Van Oosterom of the Netherlands, who chairs the sanctions committee reportedly sent out letters to UNSC members, asking them to grant the exemption. The move was approved with no objections raised by any of the 15 council members. The temporary exemption, which is the first under Resolution 2365, came a day after the South Korean mission to the UN on Wednesday submitted a formal request to the committee, asking for a temporary suspension or exemption for Choe's trip to the South. North Korea had informed Seoul on Wednesday that it would send a high-level delegation to the games, including North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's sister Kim Yo-jong, Choe Hwi and Ri Son-gwon, the head of the North's state agency in charge of inter-Korean affairs.; 2018-02-09
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N. Korean Parade Shows ICBMs, N. Korean Leader, Family: North Korea has unveiled video footage of its massive military parade held in Pyongyang on Thursday to mark the 70th anniversary of its military. The edited clips broadcast by the North’s state-run Korean Central Television later in the day showed a host of intercontinental ballistic missiles that are believed to be able to strike the U.S. mainland, including the Hwasong-15, Hwasong-14 and Hwasong-12, all of which the regime successfully test-launched last year. The North also displayed its solid-fuel Pukguksong-2 ballistic missile in an apparent bid to show off what it claims is the completion of its nuclear forces. The North’s military forces were smaller in scale than previous years possibly due to the fallout from strengthened international sanctions against the country’s nuclear and missile programs. However, many observers suspect the downsizing was intentional as Pyongyang seeks to avoid international criticism ahead of the Winter Olympics set to kick off in South Korea on Friday. Unlike past years, the parade was not broadcast live and foreign journalists were not allowed to cover the event. Despite the possible considerations for the South, however, observers say the North still achieved its goal of showing force with the parade by revealing all of its major missiles. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un also appeared on the podium during the parade flanked by his wife Ri Sol-ju and other senior party officials. Also seen was Kim’s sister and deputy director of the propaganda department of the Workers’ Party, Kim Yo-jong, who is scheduled to fly to the South on Friday as part of the North’s high-ranking delegation for the PyeongChang Games.; 2018-02-08
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Moon to Throw Luncheon for N. Korean Leader's Sister: President Moon Jae-in will meet on Saturday with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s sister, who will visit the South for the first time among the members of the North’s ruling family. Presidential Spokesman Kim Eui-kyum said in a media briefing on Thursday that Moon will host luncheon for Kim Yo-jong and other members of the North Korean high-level delegation for the PyeongChang Winter Olympics. The delegation will fly directly to the South from Pyongyang on a private plane and land at the Incheon International Airport on Friday for a three-day mission in the South, including the attendance in the opening ceremony of the PyeongChang Games later in the day. The 22-member delegation. to be led by the North's ceremonial head of state Kim Yong-nam, also includes Kim, who is serving as deputy director of the propaganda department of the Workers' Party, as well as Choe Hwi, chairman of the National Sports Guidance Committee, and Ri Son-gwon, chairman of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland. It is speculated Kim Yo-jong will deliver to Moon a letter from her brother during the luncheon meeting.; 2018-02-08
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Moon Holds Summit Talks with German President: President Moon Jae-in held summit talks with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at his office Thursday and discussed bilateral ties and regional affairs. During the meeting, Moon said that improving inter-Korean relations and denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula must go hand in hand. He said Seoul's task is to continue the dialogue momentum created between the two Koreas after the PyeongChang Olympics so it can also lead to dialogue between North Korea and the United States. The president said there are high expectations for improved cross-border relations and hosting a peaceful Olympics following Pyongyang's decision to take part in the Winter Games. He said Germany's experience of overcoming conflict between East and West Germany and achieving reconciliation and unification provides Korea with many lessons and inspiration. In response, the German president pledged support for the Korean leader's efforts to establish peace on the Korean Peninsula. Steinmeier urged not to give up hope on unification and to work on small areas to loosen up the dividing wall. He also advised to expand humanitarian exchanges such as mutual visits and family reunions.; 2018-02-08
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Seoul: Difficult to Predict Possible US-North Contact during Olympics: The Foreign Ministry has expressed hope that the PyeongChang Olympics can serve to spur dialogue for the resolution of North Korea's nuclear crisis. During a regular briefing Thursday, ministry spokesman Noh Kyu-duk was asked about possible contact between high-level officials of North Korea and the U.S. in South Korea during the Olympic period. The spokesman said it is difficult to predict that possibility but said the South Korean government, based on its alliance with the U.S., has urged Pyongyang to engage in meaningful dialogue aimed at resolving the nuclear issue. He added that Seoul is also exerting efforts to foster favorable conditions for talks between the U.S. and North Korea. U.S. Vice President Mike Pence is leading a high level delegation to South Korea for the Olympics while North Korea's government delegation includes Kim Jong-un's younger sister Kim Yo-jong and the country's nominal head of state and parliamentary leader Kim Yong-nam.; 2018-02-08
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S. Korea Secures First Win at PyeongChang Olympics in Curling: South Korea's curling team has secured its first win at the PyeongChang Winter Olympics. The team of Jang Hye-ji and Lee Ki-jeong easily defeated Finland 9-4 in the preliminary of the round robin session in mixed doubles curling on Thursday at the Gangneung Curling Center. The duo earned three points in the first end and added one each in the second and third end. The Finnish team scored four points in the following three ends, but South Korea added four additional points in the seventh, forcing Finland to give up. The opening ceremony of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics is set for Friday, but the competition began with curling and ski jumping on Thursday.; 2018-02-08
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Seoul Welcomes Planned Visit by N. Korean Leader's Sister: Seoul has welcomed a planned visit to the South by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's younger sister, saying it shows Pyongyang’s will to ease inter-Korean tensions. Presidential spokesman Kim Eui-kyum said in a media briefing on Wednesday that it is significant that the regime is sending Kim Yo-jong, who plays an important role in the North’s ruling Workers’ Party. The spokesman said the top office also assesses that her upcoming visit reflects the the North's will to ease tensions on the peninsula and to congratulate the South on its hosting of a Winter Olympics. He added the government will make sure that she and other members of the high-ranking delegation from Pyongyang will suffer no inconvenience during their stay in South Korea. Early in the day, the North delivered to the South a list of its high-level delegation to the Winter Games, including the 28-year old deputy director of the propaganda department of the Workers' Party.; 2018-02-07
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PyeongChang Opening Ceremony to Be Held amid Usual Cold: The opening ceremony of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics is expected to be held amid average winter temperatures. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration(KMA), during the opening ceremony of the sporting event between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Friday, the mercury is forecast to hover between minus five and minus two degrees Celsius. Conditions will be similar to or higher than the seasonal average for this time of year. However, the wind chill will make it feel like it is around minus ten, but the weather agency noted it will likely pose no significant health issues for those attending the ceremony. The PyeongChang Olympic Plaza, where the opening ceremony will be held, is an open-air stadium, which has raised concerns about exposing athletes to freezing cold conditions. In response, the organizing committee for the Games plans to set up windbreak fences within the venue and provide heating pads for around 35-thousand spectators.; 2018-02-07
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National Assembly Adopts Resolution for Successful PyeongChang Olympics: The National Assembly has adopted a resolution that urges the parliament and the government to cooperate on the successful hosting of the PyeongChang Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. Out of 296 lawmakers, 165 attended a plenary session on Wednesday, with 160 of them voting for the resolution. One voted against it, while four others abstained. The resolution contains the parliament’s will not to use the Olympics as an ideological tool and restrain itself from being embroiled in political confrontation and conflicts. It also calls on the government to not try to create a source of political strife during the Olympics and work to ensure that the Winter Olympics being held on the Korean Peninsula for the first time will be a landmark for bringing permanent peace to the region.; 2018-02-07
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N. Korean Cheering Squad, Media Delegation Arrive in S. Korea: A 280-member North Korean delegation, including cheerleaders and a taekwondo demonstration team, arrived in South Korea Wednesday via the western border land route. The delegation arrived at the South Korean side of the Inter-Korean Transit Office at 9:28 a.m. Led by Sports Minister Kim Il-guk, the delegation includes four officials of the North's National Olympic Committee, 229 cheerleaders, 26 taekwondo demonstrators and 21 journalists. The cheering squad will reportedly attend North Korean athletes' games and the joint inter-Korean ice hockey team's games, as well as some South Koreans athletes' matches. The taekwondo demonstration team will hold four joint demonstrations with South Koreans. The first performance will be held ahead of the PyeongChang Olympics’ opening ceremony on Friday, and the second performance on the following day in Sokcho, Gangwon Province. The remaining two performances will be held in Seoul next Monday and Wednesday.; 2018-02-07
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