North and South Korea meet again

International Desk: North and South Korea are discussing fielding a joint ice hockey team in next month's Winter Olympics, a potential first for the two countries, which have never competed under one flag at the Games.

Baik Tae-hyun, a spokesman for South Korea's Unification Ministry, said Monday the two sides were in the process of coordinating the creation of an inter-Korean women's ice hockey team.

Baik's comments come as officials from Seoul and Pyongyang sat down for discussions Monday, the second such meeting in less than seven days.

The two sides, meeting at the demilitarized zone (DMZ) between North and South Korea, are expected to hammer out details on how the secluded communist nation can take part in the Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea, though no exact agenda has been disclosed.Last week, officials from North and South Korea met face-to-face for the first time in two years, with the North agreeing to send a delegation to the Games -- the most significant thaw in relations between the neighboring states in years.

To date, only two North Korean athletes have qualified for the Games -- figure skaters Ryom Tae Ok and Kim Ju sik. However, the country's National Olympic Committee did not meet an October 30 deadline to accept their spot.


There has been talk of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) granting an additional quota, or so-called wild card, for North Korean athletes.

In a statement last week, the IOC reiterated that it remains open to the North's participation. "Our mission is always to ensure the participation of all qualified athletes, beyond all political tensions and divisions. On this we have been working with all the stakeholders for quite some time," the statement said.

Source: Agencies


risingbd/Jan 15, 2018/Mukul