‘N. Korea’s Participation will Contribute to Successful Hosting of Olympics’

Accreditations will also be given to 24 officials and 21 media representatives from the DPRK.

IOC President Thomas Bach confirmed that the two nations would march together at the opening ceremony on February 9.

The acronym “COR” will be used both here and for the ice hockey team but athletes will compete separately in all other events.

Though Moon has long desired talks with North Korea and sees them as a “precious chance to open the door” to peace, South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense has warned that Pyongyang’s diplomatic efforts could be an “attempt to weaken ROK – US cooperation”.

While Hyun’s visit has been well received, not all are happy with her presence here or what her visit to South Korea signifies. The South Korean president’s approval rating has dropped in recent days as well.

The North Korean delegation met opposition with disturbances near Seoul train station.

The reconciliation mood between the Koreas began after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said in a New Year’s speech that he was willing to send a delegation to the Olympics. “During the joint entrance at the opening ceremony, the athletes will have Korean Peninsula flags on their chests and “Korea” written on the back of their uniforms”, explained Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Do Jong-hwan at a press conference soon after his arrival at Incheon Airport on January 21.

The unified women’s ice hockey team will be represented by the Korean Unification Flag and compete as Korea, with the anthem being the song “Arirang”. However, to maintain fairness for opponents, only 22 can suit up for each game.

All others would have not qualified otherwise and have benefited from additional quota places.

In 2012, Hyon joined the all-female Western-style Morangbong Band which was reportedly formed under the orders of Kim Jong Un.

Han Chun-gyong, Pak Il-chol and Ri Yong-gum will compete for the North in cross-country skiing, and Choe Myong-gwang, Kang Song-il and Kim Ryon-hyang will compete in alpine skiing. After the unified team decision, the Liberty Korea Party released a statement “joining the public to denounce the Moon Jae-in’s declaration of the ‘Pyongyang Olympics.'” They seem deeply anxious that the Olympics could end up a success that leads to dialogue between South and North. We sincerely hope the unity the Olympics has brought to South and North will lead to improved relations and peace on the peninsula once the Games are over.

“The DPRK’s participation in the PyeongChang Winter Olympics will present the most dramatic scene in the history of the Olympics”, said ROK Minister of Sport, Do Jong Hwan.

“Such dialogue came dramatically, while the possibility of war again loomed”.

Still, many experts think Moon’s government made the right move in jumping at the opportunity to resume contact with North Korea after almost two years of diplomatic stalemate and animosity. “I got two more emails, then someone called my dad and was, like, ‘Randi’s not answering her emails, we want to make sure we have the right email address, we really want her to write back to us.’ So my dad called me and he was, like, ‘I think this is real”‘.