In a symbolic move, North and South Korean athletes will march together under a flag showing a unified Korea during the Winter Olympics held in Pyeongchang, South Korea. After a year of heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula, the announcement came as a welcome change of pace, though it remains unclear if further diplomacy will be conducted during the Olympic Games.
The two countries have also cooperated by sending a mixed women’s ice hockey team to the games. This is the first such mixed team for them since a youth soccer tournament more than 25 years ago — and an Olympic first. Additionally, an agreement was made for Korean skiers to train together at North Korea’s much-touted Masikryong Ski Resort.
The United Nations and most of the international community was overwhelmingly pleased with the announcement, with President of the General Assembly Miroslav Lajcak tweeting “Heartened by reports that Koreans from DPRK & RoK will march together in @olympics opening ceremony.”
As the opening ceremony approaches, it is unclear whether the countries will take advantage of the Olympics — held just 50 miles from the DMZ — to further relations, or if competing together is the extent of their diplomacy. For the U.S., it has been hinted that high-level talks are possible with North Korean officials, but both Vice President Pence and Secretary of State Tillerson are saying they would have to “wait and see” if they would meet with North Korean representatives.
More than likely, though, conditions will return to ‘normal’ after the completion of the games. Joint U.S.-South Korean military exercises are scheduled to begin in late April, which have traditionally been met with threats of war from Kim Jong Un.
