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North Korean figure skaters Ryom Tae-ok (18) and Kim Ju-sik (25) qualified for the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang following their performance at the 2017 Nebelhorn Trophy

On Oct. 12, South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-hwa said that North Korea had applied to participate in the Pyeongchang Paralympics Committee. Considering that North Korea’s application to participate comes at a time of heightened military tensions between the North and the US, this could provide an opportunity for future inter-Korean exchanges.

During the National Assembly’s audit of the Foreign Ministry, which was held in the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee on Oct. 12, Kang was asked by Won Hye-yeong, a lawmaker with the Democratic Party, for an update on the progress of a resolution that Seoul had submitted to the UN calling for the cessation of conflict around the world during the Pyeongchang Olympics.

“Negotiations are focusing on the draft of the resolution of the resolution so that the Pyeongchang Olympics can be an opportunity to reinforce peace,” Kang said as she explained that North Korea hopes to participate in the Paralympics. The Paralympics, a competition for athletes with disabilities, will be held after the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, starting on Mar. 9 and lasting for 10 days.

North Korea’s intention to participate in the Paralympics further increases the likelihood that it will take part in the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics as well. Last month, North Korea secured a qualifying spot at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics in the pair category of a figure skating competition hosted by the International Skating Union (ISU) in Germany.

“I am quite sure that politics is one thing and Olympics is another thing,” said Chang Ung, North Korea’s representative on the International Olympic Committee (IOC), while attending the committee’s general assembly in Lima, Peru, on Sept. 16. Chang added that North Korea would decide about taking part in the games if their athletes qualified.

“North Korea has qualified in figure skating pairs, and it’s working on ways to cooperate with the IOC so that it can participate in other areas, too. I hope there will be a lot of participation from North Korea, whether by athletes or supporters,” Kang said.

By Kim Tae-kyu and Kim Kyu-nam, staff reporters

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