Two Koreas Figure Skating Practice Draws Crowd

(ATR) More than 100 journalists, photographers, and cameramen were on hand to watch training for the pairs figure skating competition featuring North and South Korean skaters.

Three sets of pairs practiced for 50 minutes, in the underground practice rink at the Gangneung Ice Arena. It was the second training session for North Korean pair Tae Ok Ryom and Ju Sik Kim.

Ryom, 19, and Kim, 25, have drawn intense media attention ahead of the 2018 Winter Olympics as the first, and only, North Koreans to qualify directly for PyeongChang. The pair’s participation was cast into doubt last year when North Korean officials missed the deadline to register for the Olympic competition. The IOC stepped in and offered the pair a wild card spot, along with the other 20 athletes invited to the Games.

The pair was the last to make their way to the ice and was accompanied by three coaches.

During practice the North Korean skaters drew light applause when beginning and ending their free skate run through. The pair was allotted over four minutes of music time so they could perform the full free skate set to the song "Je suis qu'une chanson," performed by Ginette Reno. The pair used the same long program song last season when they placed third at the 2017 Asian Winter Games in Sapporo. In the last tuneup before the Games, Ryom and Kim finished third at the Four Continents competition.

The run through did not go as planned for the pair, with Ryom falling on two of the three jumps attempted. After the second fall, both Ryom and Kim stopped the free skate and spent an extended period of time talking with their coach. Throughout the skate Kim could be seen telling Ryom to calm down.

Journalists were not given the opportunity to ask the figure skaters about how the session went, or anything. The North Korean delegation briskly walked through the required mixed zone as journalists shouted questions.

Kim offered a tantalizing quote to the hungry press corps saying "it was a good atmosphere" in the practice rink, but nothing else. South Korean journalists said he has offered one word answers after every skate, much to their chagrin.

The North Koreans' presence wasn’t a story on its own at today’s practice, it was significant because of the South Korean pair of Alex Kam and Kyueun Kim drawn in the same group. Throughout the 50 minute session both pairs practiced alongside each other.

Kam told reporters after the practice that the two Korean pairs exchanged pleasantries and discussed practice schedules. He said that the intense media scrutiny on the practice was a "bit overwhelming," but the pair was happy to have the media’s eyes on them.

"It is better when there are more people compared to no people," Kam said to Around the Rings. "It was our first training we had this week, so just getting warmed up. The rink is really nice, the facility is very nice; it is not too cold."

Kam called the North Korean pair "really friendly and really bright," and said the two groups have crossed paths a number of times over the last year. During that time Kam and Kim said it wasn’t "too difficult to get close to them," and that they have used the North Korea’s skill as a motivating factor.

"They’re a good team, so when we're training alongside a good team it pushes us to do a bit more," Kam said.

Larger Diplomatic Issues in Play

The fact remains that the North Korean figure skaters exist in a much larger diplomatic context than just a feel good sports story. Just before the skaters were set to take to the rink in Gangneung, the South Korean Blue House spokesperson Eui Kyeom Kim said in a statement that the North Korean government delegation will be led by titular head of state Yong Nam Kim.

Kim is President of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly in North Korea and has never traveled to South Korea. His arrival will make him the highest ranking North Korean official to visit South Korea, according to a Blue House release.

"We believe that Kim’s visit reflects North Korea’s willingness to improve inter-Korean relations and to contribute to the success of the PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games, and that the North has shown seriousness and sincerity," the Blue House statement said. "We expect that Kim’s visit will serve as an opportunity for making the PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games an Olympics of peace and harmony for the whole world as well as the two Koreas and for ensuring sustainable development of the inter-Korean relations and permanent peace on the Korean peninsula."

President Jae In Moon’s office is considering a one on one meeting with Kim, according to a report from Yonhap. The two leaders could meet during a reception for world leaders ahead of the 2018 PyeongChang Opening Ceremony. Kim’s attendance would mean 21 heads of state in attendance at the Opening Ceremony along with United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres.

United States Vice President Mike Pence will also be in attendance for the ceremonies, but it is unclear if any U.S.-North Korean talks could happen given Pence’s mission to counteract North Korean propaganda on the trip.

Kim will reportedly attend the opening match of the Unified Korean women’s ice hockey team, according to Yonhap. A Blue House official told ATR that "you can surely bet" Moon will attend sporting events during the beginning days of PyeongChang 2018. The official said there are no guarantees, but "a safe guess would be one that's attracting a lot of attention these days".

Moon attended the opening IOC Session this week in PyeongChang before he will return to Seoul. He will return to PyeongChang for the Opening Ceremony.

Written by Aaron Bauer

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