2 Koreas mull use of N. Korea resort in Olympics

by BLOOMBERG

SEOULThe Olympics could soon be heading to North Korea.

At the third round of talks between the two Koreas in just over a week, the three-person negotiation teams talked about the potential for a joint cultural event at the Mount Geumgang resort and the use of the Masikryong ski resort on North Korea’s east coast, according to a statement by South Korea’s Unification Ministry.

North Korea said it plans to send a 230-member cheering squad, and offered to the use a land route for the delegation that will also include athletes, officials, musicians and reporters, according to the ministry. South Korea has yet to respond to these requests. The two sides also discussed issues such as a joint march at the opening ceremony, and North Korea’s participation in the Paralympics.

The sides have yet to decide who will represent Kim Jong-un at the Games to be held in the ski resort of Pyeongchang from Feb 9. Last week, they agreed to allow Samjiyon a 140-member North Korean orchestra to perform concerts in Seoul and Gangneung, a vacation city near Pyeongchang.

At an International Olympic Committee meeting in Switzerland planned for the weekend, officials will decide on matters such as the number and names of North Korean athletes and Olympic officials, the committee said in a statement last week. It will also decide on participation protocol regarding the flag that North Korea will compete under. — Bloomberg