(ATR) South Korea President Jae In Moon told the United Nations General Assembly he would make "wholehearted endeavors" to bring North Korea to the 2018 Olympic Games.
Moon devoted the final part of his UN speech to the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang. Moon said that the thought of world leaders congregating less than 100 miles from the Demilitarized Zone in friendship and harmony is "not an impossible dream".
Yesterday Moon met with IOC President Thomas Bach behind the scenes at the UN to discuss the state of security ahead of PyeongChang. The moves were a start contrast to the rhetoric presented by U.S. President Donald Trump on the opening day of the General Assembly. Trump promised "to totally destroy North Korea" if allies of the U.S. were ever put in danger by the reclusive state.
"My heart is filled with great joy when I imagine North Korean athletes marching into the stadium during the opening ceremony, a South-North Korean joint cheering squad enthusiastically welcoming them alongside the brightly smiling faces of people from all over the world," Moon opined in his speech.
"Today, with that heartfelt pledge, I invite the heads of state and government from around the world to come to PyeongChang. The steps you take, together, will become a march for peace."
Qualification of North Korean athletes for the 2018 Winter Olympics is still ongoing. Two figure skaters will take part in qualification tournaments in the coming weeks, the last chances for a North Korean to secure a trip to PyeongChang.
North Korean IOC Member Ung Chang told journalists at the 2017 IOC Session last week that any discussions of a delegation from North Korea begins and ends with qualified athletes. Chang refused to speculate on the pair’s chances and the security situation on the Korean peninsula saying he "is not a politician".
Chang said that the current ratcheting of tensions is not unprecedented, and is stemming from ongoing joint military drills between South Korea and the United States. During the IOC Session North Korea launched an intercontinental ballistic missile over Japan, prompting more questions regarding the Games’ security. Today, the French Sports Minister Laura Flessel said the country could "stay home," if there were no security guarantees, according to AFP.
"Most of the countries, they try to develop missiles and they launch, but why not DPR Korea?" asked Chang. "Next year [it's] possible tensions will go up, but the IOC president is working very hard."
During the Session Bach said that the IOC is addressing the North Korea situation "bilaterally" with contacts in National Olympic Committees and governments.
Written by Aaron Bauer
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