Thaw in the Winter Olympics
ERTAINLY, the reduced tension between the warring Koreas is a welcome development and not just for those missiles. But it may be too early to declare a victory for sports diplomacy, as some might wish for. Good optics should not be a substitute for real progress, especially when it comes to peace and stability in the region.
Ahead of the 2018 Winter Olympics, North and South Korean athletes will presumably participate in the games and may even march with their fellow Korean Olympians from south of the 38th parallel in the opening ceremonies.
Pyeongchang. Countries compete and spend resources to host the Olympics, largely in hopes of cashing in on the promotions and political dividends. And so such as actions by North Korea
North Korea, for its part, appears to be the bigger winner, even with economic sanctions still in place. For one, denuclearization military exercises, which Pyongyang has been demanding. In reality, all that North Korea had to do to gain access to the Winter Olympics – and the global arena – was to behave somehow for a short time. We hope that the rewards of this good behavior will encourage Mr. Kim to continue along the path to peace.
Keeping the peace
We also hope that the Winter Olympics will show North Korea that it has more to gain from opening up to the world, will continue well after the Olympics next month, as that would that ensure continued growth and progress currently being enjoyed in Asia.
By adhering to the sanctions, South Korea will feel encour aged, we hope, to continue engaging North Korea without proliferation and war. Obviously, South Korea will be the the gains, beginning with the two leading economies, China growth in Southeast Asia.
international sanctions. In December, for instance, there were several news reports of North Korean vessels receiving oil ship ments while out at sea. South Korea had even seized a Hong
These deliveries not only violate UN sanctions, but they also pose grave threats to the environment and livelihoods. The open sea can be perilous and cause a spillage that cost billions of dol
We certainly hope that those countries propping up the North Korean regime will come to appreciate that Pyongyang can be lured to the negotiating table, as we are seeing now. No country between North Korea and the South and its allies. Many more countries, including those in Southeast Asia, will enjoy prosper ity from peace and stability in the Korean peninsula.
threats of war after the Winter Games close. For the world to