Mixed reactions after DPRK raises Olympics security scare

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Despite efforts by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to calm the jitters, Austria and Germany joined France on Friday in raising the specter of staying away from the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea amid security fears over the nuclear-armed Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

Winter Olympic powerhouse Austria also said it was prepared to envisage staying away from the Pyeongchang Games next February if security concerns deepened.

The fears come amid an escalating war of words between American President Donald Trump and the DPRK leader Kim Jong Un. The DPRK, which conducted a sixth nuclear test on September 3 to global condemnation, said on Friday it might test a hydrogen bomb over the Pacific Ocean after Trump threatened to destroy the reclusive country.

(File) DPRK leader Kim Jong Un guides a meeting of the central military commission of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea on August 20, 2015. /Xinhua Photo

The multi-billion dollar Pyeongchang Olympics will be held just 80 kilometers (50 miles) from the demilitarized zone between South Korea and the DPRK.

IOC president Thomas Bach sought personally to downplay security fears 10 days ago, and on Friday a confident IOC spokesman insisted: "There is no plan B."

Other winter sports powerhouses said they were monitoring developments but had no plans to miss the event.

The United States Olympic Committee said it has faith in the organizers of the 2018 South Korea Winter Olympics to put on a successful event despite growing security fears on the Korean Peninsula.

"The United States Olympic Committee is very much looking forward to the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, and will participate in the upcoming lighting of the Olympic Flame in Olympia to celebrate the approaching Games," said USOC chief executive Scott Blackmun, adding that the US’ preparations for the event continue “in earnest”.

An ice sculpture of the Olympic rings is seen during the Pyeongchang Winter Festival, near the venue for the opening and closing ceremony of the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea, on February 10, 2017. /Reuters Photo

Russia said security was each host country's responsibility and China's foreign ministry said it was not aware of any plans for its Olympic team to not attend.

Italy's Olympic committee said on Friday that it and other national committees had received reassurances from IOC President Thomas Bach last week at a meeting in Lima.

"We look forward to safe and secure Olympic Winter Games," Italy committee president Giovanni Malagò said in a statement emailed to Reuters.

Waiving participation of the Swiss team "is at the moment not under discussion," one of its Olympic committee officials told Reuters.

Sweden also has no plans to stay away.

Source(s): AFP ,Reuters