PyeongChang 2018 Could Thaw Frosty Asian Relations

(ATR) South Korean President Jae In Moon says the 2018 Olympic could be a catalyst for greater regional diplomatic cooperation.

Moon visited Asian leaders during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations regional forum in the Philippines this week, as part of a larger foreign tour. He was one of many visiting world leaders to attend the forum including Xi Jinping of China and U.S. President Donald Trump.

Moon spoke with journalists after saying he is focused on bringing "North Korea on the path to dialogue," according to reports from Yonhap. After being elected this year, Moon has expressed belief that North Korea attending the 2018 Winter Olympics could restart relations between the two countries.

"Should North Korea take part, I believe the PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games will go beyond being a simple Olympic event to provide a great chance to contribute to peace between the South and North Korea and to peace in the entire Northeast Asian region," Moon said to journalists.

"Even if North Korea does not take part, the 2020 Summer Olympic Games will be held in Tokyo and the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing following the PyeongChang Olympics next year. A series of three Olympic events will be held in Asia and the PyeongChang Olympics will be the first of them."

North Korea has remained tight-lipped about its participation for the 2018 Games. So far the country has qualified a pair of figure skaters for the Games. North Korea did not participate at the 1988 Summer Olympic Games in Seoul.

Moon said that the three Olympiads in Asia could leader to greater diplomatic cooperation between South Korea, China and Japan. Already on his trip Moon has scheduled bilateral talks with both Jinping and Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang. Moon’s administration has also made an effort to revive talks between South Korea and Japan according to Yonhap.

"I believe the three Olympic events will be a good chance for the political leaders of Northeast Asian countries to address various issues such as peace, economic bloc and co-prosperity," Moon said.

Torch Relay Continues

The 2018 Olympic Flame continues its journey along the southeast coast of South Korea.

Today’s route went through Changwon, the country’s first planned city. Chagnwon is home to the South Korean Naval Academy, which was visited by the torch.

Cadets in the academy ran with the torch as it visited a PC-701 battleship.

Tomorrow, the flame will be in Miryang and Changnyeong. During the relay the torch will travel to Upo Wetland, a nature pressure that is the oldest wetland in Korea. The torch will travel into the preserve by a motor-less boat known colloquially as an Imabae.

Below is a video from today’s leg of the relay:

Written by Aaron Bauer

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