Encore! North Korea to Attend PyeongChang Paralympics

(ATR) North Korea is ready to follow up on its Olympic performances, agreeing on Tuesday to send athletes to the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Paralympics.

North and South Korea are expected to march as a unified team once more during the Paralympic opening ceremony on March 8. The North Korean athletes entering the PyeongChang Paralympic Stadium will make history as the first athletes from the country to participate in the Winter Paralympics.

The two countries agreed to four proposals tied to the Paralympics during high-level talks held in the Demilitarized Zone on Feb. 27. Just as for the Olympics that concluded Feb. 25, South Korea will provide guidance, secure accommodations and "guarantee the convenience" of the North’s delegation.

While the released proposal did not include the number of athletes to attend, it did specify that the North Korean delegation will arrive on March 7 via the Gyeongui Line land route. United Nations sanctions against North Korea prevent air travel between North and South Korea.

The International Paralympic Committee must still approve any proposals but has previously welcomed North Korea’s participation at PyeongChang 2018 and extended invites to two North Koran athletes, Jong Hyon Kim and Yu Chol Ma, to compete in Para Nordic skiing.

North Korea has only competed in two previous Paralympics, sending two Paralympians to compete in athletics at the Rio 2016 Summer Games following its successful Paralympics debut at the London 2012 Games.

While North Korea sent more than 500 people to PyeongChang to participate in the Games and cultural performances surrounding them, it is expected that less than 150 North Korean will travel to South Korea for the Paralympics.

Previous talks between the two country included invitations to a cheerleading squad and musicians from North Korea, but Tuesday’s release from South Korea’s unification ministry held no mention of the additional delegates.

North and South Korea will continue refining the details of the Paralympics participation in the week leading up to the event through the dedicated communications channels in Panmunjeom.

Written by Kevin Nutley

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