ATR First: U.S. Envoy Says Olympics Can Defuse Korean Tensions

(ATR) The coming of the 2018 Olympic Winter Games could steer tensions on the Korean Peninsula towards peace instead of war, says one of the world’s experts on Korean diplomacy.

"I believe in soft powered diplomacy, you’ll recall it was ping pong diplomacy that brought the two countries, China and the U.S. together," says Bill Richardson in the latest edition of Around the Rings Radio hosted by ATR Editor Ed Hula.

Richardson, who served as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations under the Clinton administration, says he has never seen tensions at this level in nearly 20 years of experience dealing with North Korea. The coming of the Olympics are a cause for optimism on his part.

"I think there is the possibility that sports can be a path towards easing tensions, diplomacy. I’m not saying it will reduce tension, but it could be a bridge. That’s why I am excited about the Olympics happening in South Korea. South Korea and North Korea may be working together to enhance the Korean medal count and Korean prestige in international sport," says Richardson.

Richardson has traveled to North Korea nine times since being asked to help negotiate the release of U.S. citizens held in prisons. A Democrat who also served in the U.S. House of Representatives and as governor of New Mexico, has so far not been asked to help with North Korean diplomacy by the Trump White House.

"I applaud this South Korean president," says Richardson about newly elected Jae In Moon, who is pushing for North Korea to participate at PyeongChang, the first Winter Olympics hosted by South Korea.

"I’ve urged my President -- President Trump – to reach out to President Moon and not dump on him because he’s seeking a dialogue with North Korea. I think North Korea has a strategy and there’s an end game for Kim Jong Un and it may be a better understanding for not just the region but with South Korea, and that’s what I’m hopeful for.

"Sports can be a bridge for better understanding. This is why I think these Olympics are important and they should happen and they should be nourished and supported by everybody," says Richardson.

Speaking from his perspective as a former U.N. diplomat, Richardson applauds the Olympic Truce resolution now gathering signatures ahead of a vote scheduled for Nov. 13.

"There’s 195 countries in the UN, I hope it gets 193 or 194 votes. I expect it will. South Korea is very respected in the UN, Ban Ki Moon was secretary general. South Korea has done a great job of organizing these Olympics. The Olympics are going to be very successful there," he says, though he predicts there still may be dissident votes.

With the help of the Olympic Truce, Richardson believes that athletes should have no fears for their safety when they travel to PyeongChang for the Games in February.

"South Korea has some impeccable credentials on enhancing and ensuring security. My prediction is there won’t be any security incidents. You can’t predict this, but they’re going to see that sport transcends difficulties and military conflicts and tension and that everybody will ensure there is security.

"I hope every athlete that is able to participate participates. I think it was a mistake in the old Olympics when the US withdrew from the Moscow Olympics. We should’ve been there, we would have won a bunch of medals. Participate, engage," Richardson tells Around the Rings.

Written by Ed Hula

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