◀ Anchor ▶
North Korea has decided to abstain from the Tokyo Olympics scheduled for July.
He said the reason was to protect the players from corona.
With the Olympics as an opportunity, the Korean government’s initiative to resolve inter-Korean relations is also expected to be disrupted.
This is reporter Son Ryeong.
◀ Report ▶
PyeongChang Winter Olympics in February 2018.
President Moon Jae-in and North Korea’s Vice President Kim Yeo-jeong are watching the opening ceremony together
Dialogue between the two Koreas has advanced rapidly, leading to the inter-Korean summit and the US-North Korea summit.
It was decided to promote the formation of a single team between the two Koreas of the Tokyo Olympics and joint hosting of the 2032 Seoul-Pyongyang Olympics.
[북한 조선중앙TV/지난 2018년 3월]
“The frozen north-south relations could face a dramatic ice age with the Olympics…”
However, the inter-Korean relations froze again due to the bombing of the inter-Korean liaison office last year and the attack of public officials in the West Sea.
The government has been preparing to make the Tokyo Olympics, which will be held in July, a turning point.
[문재인 대통령/지난 3월 1일]
“The Tokyo Olympics can also be an opportunity for dialogue between Korea and Japan, between South and North Korea, between North Korea and Japan, and between North Korea and the United States.”
However, as North Korea announced its position that it would not participate to protect the players in the corona crisis, these expectations were in vain.
Although the protection of players is the superficial reason, some analyzes say that there are dissatisfaction with the worsening relations between North Korea and Japan and the subsequent sanctions of the international community.
[김동엽 교수/북한대학원 대학교]
“I think it is an offensive diplomatic dimension to the negative currents of human rights issues such as the corona inside North Korea that are generally appearing in the international community.”
Japan also feels embarrassed.
Dustin Johnson, the world’s number one golfer in men’s golf, announces his intention to absent, and North Korea’s declaration of absence will spread to other countries as the preliminary camp training of foreign athletes is canceled.
[가토 가쓰노부/일본 관방장관]
“We are watching the fact that North Korea’s participation is being coordinated with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as I said.”
The Korean government expressed its regret and left a room saying that it expects North Korea’s participation as there is still time.
The International Olympic Committee said North Korea has not yet officially announced the absence of the Tokyo Olympics.
This is MBC News.
(Video editing: Yoo Da-hye)
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