The “Peace Games”: A Historic Moment
Earlier in January it was announced that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea) and South Korea will be marching together under a single unified flag in the Winter Olympics.
The Winter Olympics will be taking place in Pyeongchang, South Korea starting next week on February 9th, 2018. Sports covered in the Winter Olympics include skating, skiing, snowboarding, and ice hockey, among others.
These negotiation began because two North Korean figure skaters, Ryom Tae Ok and Kim Ju Sik, had qualified for the Winter Olympics, but the Olympic committee did not register them before the deadline. Afterwards, the negotiations to try to get them to compete anyways were held by the International Olympic Committee in Switzerland. The outcome of these negotiations shocked the world.
Not only did North and South Korea announce they would be marching under a single unified flag, but it was also announced that the two rival countries will have a joint team for women’s ice hockey. This is a historic moment of peace between North and South Korea, and they have coined the term “peace games.” The two countries have not had relations or negotiations in over 10 years. The last joint team they ever sent to an athletic competition was in 1991.
Additionally, North Korea will send 22 athletes, 15 female and 7 male, along with musicians and performers into South Korea, including 230 female cheerleaders. Many things are yet to be arranged, including travel and crossing the volatile border.
Because of this arrangement, there will be an increase in security during the event. However, many around the world are seeing this as a sign of hope for diffusing relations between the two countries during this time of tension.
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