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President Moon Jae-in is interviewed by the US broadcaster NBC while riding in “Train 1

The US is reportedly weighing South Korean President Moon Jae-in’s proposal on Dec. 19 to postpone joint military exercises until after the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics. In an interview with the US broadcaster NBC that day, Moon said he was considering bold measures such as downscaling of joint South Korea-US military exercises to reduce tensions on the peninsula during the Olympics. The interview took place on board “Train 1,” an exclusive presidential KTX train service line between Seoul and Gangneung that is set to open on Dec. 22 ahead of the Games.

“It is possible that South Korea and the US will examine whether their joint military exercises can be postponed,” Moon said.

“I made the proposal to the US, and the US is currently examining it,” he added.

At the same time, Moon said that “everything hinges on what North Korea does.”

Moon also stressed that visitors in South Korea for the Pyeongchang Olympics do not have to worry about their safety and that North Korea would not attempt to disrupt the Games. He noted that North Korea had yet to announce whether it would be taking part in the Olympics, but said past examples suggest it may make its decision at the last minute, hinting that a late-stage notification may yet come from Pyongyang.

” on Dec. 19. The train is an exclusive presidential KTX train service line between Seoul and Gangneung that is set to open on Dec. 22 ahead of the Games. (provided by Blue House)

In an earlier talk on the same train with sports department chiefs at 37 news outlets in the Korea Sports Press Union, Moon said the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and International Paralympic Committee (IPC) “believe there is a chance North Korea will take part in the Pyeongchang Olympics.” While Moon had previously stated his hope that North Korea would participate, this marked his first-ever direct mention of the likelihood of it happening.

“Our administration is consulting closely with the IOC and IPC toward North Korea’s participation, and the two committees have continued recommending that North Korea participate,” he said.

Moon also said, “In light of precedent, we’re expecting that if North Korea does participate, final confirmation will come close to the last second.”

“We plan to continue working to persuade them until them. The administration will be patient and wait,” he added.

Moon also expressed his hopes for a “peace Olympics” in Pyeongchang.

“If the ’88 Seoul Olympics made a great contribution to ending the Cold War framework and uniting East and West, then these Olympics will contribute to peace and relaxed tensions on the Korean Peninsula,” he said.

While Moon was commenting on the possibility of North Korea taking part in the Pyeongchang Olympics, Gangwon Gov. Choi Moon-soon reportedly met with Ryomyong football team director Mun Ung on both Dec. 18 and 19 in Kunming, China, where the 3rd Ari Sports Cup international youth football championship is being held. Choi’s meetings with Mun, a vice minister-level figure in the North Korean athletic community, is being seen as significant progress with other inter-Korean dialogue channels in the sports world all but silenced in the wake of the North’s nuclear tests.

“I hope this football tournament will help lead to North Korea’s athletes, supporters, and members of its culture and arts community taking part in the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics,” Choi said after a Dec. 18 dinner with the North Korea team. An agreement was also reached to hold two exchange matches next year, one in Pyongyang during the first half of the year and another in South Korea during the second half.

The Ari Sports Cup is a 15-and-under football tournament with two teams each fielded by North Korea, China, and Gangwon Province in South Korea. The first was held in Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi Province, and the second in Pyongyang. The third event in 2017 was initially to be held in Gangwon Province, but was relocated to Kunming after being suspended due to North Korea’s fourth nuclear test.

By Jung E-gil and Kim Dong-hoon, staff reporters

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