Very strong, Kim Jong-un. The supreme leader of North Korea, leader of a country populated by only 25 million souls, had the luxury of stealing the spotlight from other heads of state at the highly anticipated hour of greetings for new Year. Broadcast live on North Korean television, delivered in front of an improbable lineup of seven microphones, his message went around the world.
Kim Jong-un appears threatening towards the United States, recalling that the nuclear button is still on his desk, and the threat of using it is not “blackmail, but reality. » Known chorus. More unexpectedly, it opens the door to his country's participation in the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Games.
“I sincerely hope that the PyeongChang Winter Olympics will be successfully conducted, suggested the third member of the Kim dynasty. We are willing to take necessary measures, including sending our delegation to PyeongChang. To this end, the authorities of the North and the South could meet in the near future. The Games will be a good opportunity to demonstrate the grace of the Korean people to the world. The year 2018 will be a significant year for both the North and the South, with the North celebrating the 70th anniversary of its birth and the South hosting the Winter Olympics. »
The message is clear. Less than 40 days before the opening of the Games, Kim Jong-un is moving forward. He suggests that his country could send a delegation, and thus take part for the 9th time in its history in the winter event. He mentions, without naming it, an Olympic truce. Alleluia.
In Seoul, the news was commented on as a gift from heaven, at least officially. It is difficult to do otherwise for the South Korean regime, after having tirelessly repeated for several months that the presence of a delegation from the North would constitute a gesture towards peace.
« We welcome this declaration, commented the South Korean presidency in a press release. If the Games are successful, it will contribute to peace not only on the Korean Peninsula, but also in the region and the world. »
The South Korean government was quick to walk its talk. Cho Myoung-gyon, the Minister of Unification, announced on Tuesday, January 2, that discussions between the two countries would take place on January 9, in the border village of Panmunjom. A first dialogue focused on Olympic cooperation between the two neighbors.
At the organizing committee for the PyeongChang Games, Lee Hee-beom, the president, also had a very positive reaction. “ We actively welcome the North's suggestion that it is ready to begin talks to participate in the Games, he explained, quoted by theAFP. We are preparing for the Olympics with the idea that the North will ultimately take part. »
So much for the speeches. Very diplomatic but resolutely optimistic. Behind the scenes, the questions remain unanswered. The first directly concerns athletes. In the event that Kim Jong-un's announcement is followed through, how many will there be at the PyeongChang Games?
Less than two months before the opening, North Korea has no quota for the Olympic events. His couple of figure skaters, Ryom Tae-Ok and Kim Ju-Sik, had won their ticket, but the North Korean Olympic committee missed the deadline of October 30, 2017 to confirm their participation with the ISU. In other disciplines, the North Koreans have yet to obtain their qualification.
In a completely different case, the situation would be problematic. With North Korea, it appears to be anecdotal. The IOC has never hidden its desire to see the two Koreas parade at the opening ceremony. He will spare no effort to achieve this, even if it means including athletes from Pyongyang at the top of the list of invitees to the Games.
Another question: the price to be paid by Seoul to ensure its neighbor's participation in the PyeongChang Games. Since Kim Jong-un's announcement, analysts have been revisiting the question. And all agree to suggest that upcoming discussions between the two neighbors should revolve around “compensation” for this peaceful gesture.
As of Monday January 1, 2018, the South Korean Institute for National Security suggested that the Pyongyang regime could request, in exchange for the presence of a delegation at the Games, the lifting of economic sanctions imposed by Seoul, a relaunch of economic exchanges between the two neighbors, or even humanitarian aid from the South to the North.
With 38 days to go before the opening, time is running out. Nothing is won, of course, but everything remains possible. One thing is certain: Kim Jong-un has already succeeded in his media stunt.
