The Kim regime has officially agreed to participate in the upcoming Winter Olympics:
This photo, taken by the Joint Press Corps on Jan. 9, 2018, shows South Korea’s chief delegate Cho Myoung-gyon (L) shaking hands with his North Korean counterpart Ri Son-gwon before holdinghigh-level talks between South and North Korea. (Yonhap)
North Korea on Tuesday accepted Seoul’s proposal to hold military talks to reduce tensions and agreed to send a delegation to next month’s Winter Olympics in the South, according to a joint press statement issued after their high-level talks.
In their first formal dialogue in two years at the border village of Panmunjom, they also agreed to reactivate cooperation and exchanges through diverse levels of talks including a high-level meeting, Seoul officials said.
The agreement marked a major breakthrough in the years of frosty ties between the two countries and in last year’s heightened tensions over the North’s nuclear and missile provocations.
North Korea offered to send high-ranking officials, cheerleaders, performing artists, taekwondo demonstration teams and journalists in addition to athletes. The South promised to provide them with necessary conveniences.
They will hold working-level talks to further discuss details of the North’s participation. [Yonhap]
You can read more at the link, but those of us who have watched North Korea for years know they are not participating in the Winter Olympics out of good will. There will undoubtedly be a bill to be paid by the South. One way the South may end up paying is if the North Koreans demand inflated travel costs:
North Korea’s participation in the Pyeongchang Olympics will require agreements over a series of logistics issues, such as how to transport the North Korean delegation to the host city, where to accomodate them and who will ultimately cover the bill. [Newsweek]
Why should the South pay for the Kim regime to attend the Olympics? It should be the responsibility of the Kim regime to pay their own way like all the other countries. If the North Koreans have enough money to lob missiles everywhere and set off nuclear bombs they have enough money to cover travel and lodging for their delegation going to the Winter Olympics.
If the ROK government gives in to covering travel and lodging costs I hope President Trump tweets that he will send the ROK government the US’s travel bill as well.
Of course South Korea will be giving North Korea some money! Several millions, if history repeats itself.
In cash, in US dollars. It’ll look like the pallets of cash Obama sent Iran in the dark of the night.
So predictable.
J6Junkie
6 years ago
Fatty eats well this winter. Hope this scandal takes down the Moonie government and puts him in irons later.
Flyingsword
6 years ago
This will be far worse than any charges they made up against Pak.
J6Junkie
6 years ago
Tens of BILLIONs. Probably more than the 2 billion given during the first two Sunshine eras. A billion ain’t shit these days. 😆
1988 Olympics and 2002 World Cup were important for Korea in many ways… from international marketing to social engineering (remember pre-2002 Korean restrooms?)
But this expensive clusterfųck has no real purpose and has not been linked with any positive social change.
My pet issue would be spitting. Korean sidewalks and stairwells are checkered with bubbly clear viscous fluid with a delightfully chewy dark golden surprise in the center… like a minefield of nasty little eggs waiting to be fried sunny side up and served in a folded piece of printer paper to unsuspecting GIs.
Anyway, apart from having no purpose, these Olympics are a liability… requiring serious bribery and àsskissing of North Korea so they don’t spoil it and cause an international embarassment.
CHICKENHEAD
because Korea is hellbent on proving they are one of the great nations of the world, just like Japan. Of course, there is a disconnect between the spirit of the Han people and the country itself. A great gap that won’t be filled any time soon. But that won’t stop the government from luring tourists into a visit to Creative Korea at any turn, just like it won’t stop them from manipulating thousands of foreign students every year into Korean universities that are hilariously unprepared for dealing with non-Korean speakers.
setnaffa
6 years ago
Every city that hosts the Olympics suffers huge financial losses. The taxpayers, if they are voters, should think more carefully about their future choices.
Of course South Korea will be giving North Korea some money! Several millions, if history repeats itself.
In cash, in US dollars. It’ll look like the pallets of cash Obama sent Iran in the dark of the night.
So predictable.
Fatty eats well this winter. Hope this scandal takes down the Moonie government and puts him in irons later.
This will be far worse than any charges they made up against Pak.
Tens of BILLIONs. Probably more than the 2 billion given during the first two Sunshine eras. A billion ain’t shit these days. 😆
Why is Korea having this Olympics?
1988 Olympics and 2002 World Cup were important for Korea in many ways… from international marketing to social engineering (remember pre-2002 Korean restrooms?)
But this expensive clusterfųck has no real purpose and has not been linked with any positive social change.
My pet issue would be spitting. Korean sidewalks and stairwells are checkered with bubbly clear viscous fluid with a delightfully chewy dark golden surprise in the center… like a minefield of nasty little eggs waiting to be fried sunny side up and served in a folded piece of printer paper to unsuspecting GIs.
Anyway, apart from having no purpose, these Olympics are a liability… requiring serious bribery and àsskissing of North Korea so they don’t spoil it and cause an international embarassment.
And they are during lunar new year.
These logistics will be interesting to observe.
CHICKENHEAD
because Korea is hellbent on proving they are one of the great nations of the world, just like Japan. Of course, there is a disconnect between the spirit of the Han people and the country itself. A great gap that won’t be filled any time soon. But that won’t stop the government from luring tourists into a visit to Creative Korea at any turn, just like it won’t stop them from manipulating thousands of foreign students every year into Korean universities that are hilariously unprepared for dealing with non-Korean speakers.
Every city that hosts the Olympics suffers huge financial losses. The taxpayers, if they are voters, should think more carefully about their future choices.