For the first time in 20 years, South Korea is back to hosting the Olympics. Last time in '88 however, it was the Summer Olympics. And in '88, the Soviet Union was still alive, so you can imagine the tensions. North Korea and Cuba and some other countries obviously opted out of attending. This time though, things are a bit interesting. With all of this back and forth recently with Kim over in North Korea provoking everyone, there has been some common ground between the two divided Koreas.
As a matter of fact, Kim Jung Un said he was looking forward toward a peaceful resolution with South Korea a month ago during his New Year address. It's actually kind of unexpected that he of all people would be the first to extend an olive branch. I mean it was him who vowed to destroy the West with his harsh rhetoric.
So what does this mean? Did he really mean that or was it just some excuse to participate in the Olympics and to trick everyone? I mean after all South Korea provided a lot of aid and assistance to the North in the 90’s but the North hasn't exactly done much in return and found some little excuse to continue acting belligerent and keep up with developing nukes (thanks Bill Clinton). Maybe North Korea only wants to play nice and act all friendly to get a little more recognition and help? To be completely honest I feel like things will return back to normal within a month or two after the Olympics end. To many it seems like a way to veer South Korea away from the US. We already see North Korea demanding more and more like.
But let's look at the positive side. Both Koreas are actually cooperating this time after three talks in January. North Korea is actually traveling to South Korea and will be participating. The North is sending a 230-member cheering squad and a 30-member Taekwondo demonstration team along with a 140-member orchestra from the North. Additionally, they will both participate as a unified Korea and will carry a flag with both countries united. Kim describes his nation as a “peace-loving and responsible nuclear power” and has not forgotten to stand firm on his nuclear stance. But at least we know that he won't launch it at South Korea. As for the US and our allies, well, it's a tough call. They will be forming a unified women’s hockey team and train together.
That should be quite interesting seeing them communicate. In fact there is already a slight language barrier. Though they have the damn language, vocabulary, grammar, and of course pronunciations have changed significantly. While North Koreans use real “Korean” words, South Koreans use English-derived terms such as “butterfly blocking”. South Koreans call it “beoteopeullai”, while North Koreans call it “nabihyeong makki”, the literal definition.
Now let's look at the bigger picture. Does this mean we are looking toward a more unified Korea? Well, that may not be. There's no way NK will budge from their “Juche”- enriched society and SK won't just eliminate its Westernized system. Creating a new government is next to impossible. What this does mean is that they may become closer allies and maybe trade more. Perhaps North Korea may decide to allow more freedom for its people and at least allow its people travel freely between the two Koreas. As long as North Korea is willing to embrace some changes like more freedom and more welfare for its citizens we should be on the right track. North Korea could be influenced to spend less on its military if it doesn't hate South Korea so much, and instead use that money toward developing infrastructure.
reuters.com/article/us-northkorea-missiles-kimjongun/north-koreas-kim-open-to-dialogue-with-south-korea-will-only-use-nukes-if-threatened-idUSKBN1EQ0NJ
usatoday.com/story/news/world/2018/01/17/north-and-south-korea-agree-form-first-unified-olympic-team/1039764001/
bing-amp.com/c/www.latimes.com/world/asia/la-fg-koreas-hockey-language-2018-story.html?outputType=amp
cnn.com/2018/01/02/asia/moon-welcomes-north-korean-olympic-participation-intl/index.html
ain't ever gonn happen
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