ANALYSIS: North Korea leads diplomatic competition at Winter Olympics
The North’s charm offensive has put it in the running for one of the Games’ most important medals: the diplomatic gold
Pyeongchang — North Korea has emerged as the early favourite to grab one of the Winter Olympics’ most important medals: the diplomatic gold. That is the assessment of a former South Korean government minister and political experts who say the North has used the Games to drive a wedge between South Korea and its US ally and to potentially ease pressure on its sanctions-crippled state. In barely a month since North Korean leader Kim Jong-un surprised the world and said his nation was ready to join the Games, South Korean President Moon Jae-in has delayed military exercises, feted Kim’s sister at the Pyeongchang Olympics and given conditional consent to a bilateral summit in the North. "North Korea clearly appears to be winning the gold," said Kim Sung-han, who served as Korea’s foreign vice-minister in 2012-13 and who now teaches at Seoul’s Korea University. "Its delegation and athletes are getting all the spotlight, and Kim Jong-un’s sister is showing elegant smiles before the South ...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.