Displaying items by tag: Olympics
North Korea Backed Out of US Meeting
(Seoul)
There was supposed to be a landmark meeting between the US and North Korea at the Seoul Olympics. It should have been a chance to start a diplomatic reconciliation. Vice president Mike Pence was set to meet a delegation from North Korea at the South Korean version of the White House. But alas, it was not to be, as on the day of the meeting (which was scheduled for February 10th), the North Koreans backed out of the meeting, allegedly upset at Pence’s stern public speech on the country’s human rights record.
FINSUM: North Korea has done very well politically at these Olympics, mostly by “humanizing” themselves to the world. However, a real diplomatic engagement would have been a great step.
A Sign of Progress in Geopolitics
(Washington)
On the geopolitical side, most news is ominous. Countries disagree, threaten, embargo, or otherwise make antagonistic acts against one another. But sometimes you get a positive story. Today we want to report on one—the agreement between North and South Korea to compete under the same flag at the Olympics. The two countries, which have been at odds for many decades, will compete side by side in the games, with the women’s hockey team featuring players from both countries. Some see the agreement as placating an aggressive foe, but others see it as a sign of hope and progress.
FINSUM: We find this to be an undoubtedly positive progression, especially since just a couple of months ago the conversation was about how quickly North Korea could have tanks rolling through Seoul.