Seoul says still pushing forward on other projects with Pyongyang

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Seoul said it will go ahead with other Winter Olympics projects with Pyongyang despite the latter calling off a joint cultural performance that was less than a week away.

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) called off the joint cultural performance, which had been scheduled for Feb. 4, late on Monday, blaming media in the Republic of Korea (ROK) for encouraging "insulting" public sentiment.

However, both countries were still in negotiations over details regarding sending ROK athletes to train at Masikryong ski resort in the DPRK, an official at the Ministry of Unification in Seoul said on Tuesday.

There seemed to be no problems regarding plans for the joint training program, said the official, who asked not to be identified because of the sensitivity of the matter.

However, given Pyongyang's decision on Monday, the official said it was unlikely that any joint performance would be held before the Winter Olympics begin in PyeongChang on Feb. 9.

DPRK's women's ice hockey players arrive at the national training center in Jincheon, ROK, January 25, 2018. /Reuters Photo

The Unification Ministry was expected to send its formal response to the DPRK's decision some time on Tuesday.

The two sides launched rare talks early in January to bring athletes and artists from the DPRK to the PyeongChang Games after the DPRK's top leader Kim Jong Un said in his New Year's address that he was willing to open up discussions with Seoul.

ROK President Moon Jae-in has seen his support rate drop over his administration's response to the DPRK's participation in the Games, especially after it decided to form a combined women's ice hockey team with athletes from the two countries for the Winter Olympics.

Many in the ROK have complained that the unified women's hockey team – the only such joint team to be formed – was unfair to the players from the ROK.

More than a hundred petitions against the joint team have been sent to the presidential Blue House's website.

Government and opposition parties criticized Pyongyang's decision to call off the performance on Tuesday, with Moon's Democratic Party saying in a statement "frequent promise-breaking leads to fatigue".

Source(s): Reuters