![North Korean officials crossed the South Korean border for a meeting. [image source: lorogoro; Shaking Hands; Flickr]](https://staticr1.blastingcdn.com/media/photogallery/2018/1/10/660x290/b_502x220x82/north-korean-officials-cross-the-south-korean-border-for-a-meeting-image-source-lorogoro-shaking-hands-flickr_1769569.jpg "North Korean officials crossed the South Korean border for a meeting. [image source: lorogoro; Shaking Hands; Flickr]")
It’s official. North Korea will be making an appearance at this year’s Winter Olympics that are being held in Pyeongchang, South Korea. This decision was discussed earlier today as the two nations had a meeting in Panmunjom, South Korea.
For the first time in over two years, North Korean officials agreed to meet with South Korean officials at the Peace House in Pyeongchang, according to CNN. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, and South Korean leader, Moon Jae-in, were able to listen to the meeting and each had a hotline to the Peace House. Panmunjom is part of the demilitarized zone along the Korean border.
Could the Olympics be a potential unifier?
Since 1988, North Korea has participated in the Summer Olympics; however, they have not participated in the Winter Olympics since 1992, according to CNN. The deadline to accept a spot in the Winter Olympics was October 30, 2017, so it is uncertain if the International Olympic Committee will grant the country’s wish to participate. That being said, the committee is grateful to see the two countries working together and support the North’s desire to be involved in the Winter Games.
The International Olympic Committee is waiting to see official reports from the meeting before making a final decision. Unfortunately, according to CNN, only a North Korean figure skating pair is currently qualified to participate in the games.
On the other hand, South Korea seems more concerned with what Kim Jong-un will be up to when everyone is focused on the games, according to NPR.
A meeting that could bring together two countries
Another issue discussed during the meeting was the reunification of families that had been separated on account of the Korean War. Since the war, there have been reunifications; however, there has never been a formal peace treaty signed between the two nations, thus keeping families separated.
Seoul, South Korea really wants to move things along by having militaries from the two nations talk, along with seeing families reunited.
According to NPR, the United Nations is supportive of these talks as there has been progress towards relieving tensions between the two countries and reopening the inter-Korean military hotline.
This meeting is seen as hopeful even in a dangerous situation. There may even be hope for the United States in terms of resolving tension with North Korea. Towards the end of the meeting though, North Korean chief negotiator, Ri Son Gwon, stated that their missiles and bombs are only aimed at the United States, not South Korea, according to NPR.
