Pyeongchang Winter Games: Olympic flame tours South Korea ahead of global event

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The opening ceremony for this year's Winter Games in South Korea is less than a month away now. In the lead-up, the Olympic flame is touring the country. On Friday, it passed through the city of Paju, which has added meaning in light of recent political developments. Our correspondent Shane Hahm has more.

The Olympic flame has arrived in Paju, South Korea. The city lies on the front lines just below the border with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. As its residents look on, the torch brings a message of peace to the most heavily fortified border in the world.

KIM KANG-PO SPECTATOR "My wish is for a successful Olympics. Two of my co-workers were torch-bearers today. Seeing them run made me more interested in the Olympics. I hope for success as the host."

SHANE HAHM PAJU "The Olympic torch will cover a total distance of 2,018km and will pass through all nine of the country's provinces and eight major cities. More than 7,500 torchbearers will carry the flame. And not only will it travel on foot, it'll travel by bicycle, zip-wire, and even by a robot."

Missile launches and nuclear tests have dominated the headlines in recent months. But tensions seem to be thawing. Seoul and Pyongyang have agreed to use the Olympics as a way to possibly mend ties.

CHUN HAE-SUNG VICE MINISTER, MINISTRY OF UNIFICATION "The ROK and the DPRK will march together under one flag at the opening ceremony of the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics and field a combined women's ice hockey team."

Paju has a population of roughly 400,000. The truce border village of Panmunjom, where the Korean War Armistice was signed, is close by. That's why, for many residents here, the Olympic flame is more so a symbol of peace and hope.

PARK SO-YOUNG SPECTATOR "I think it's a good thing that the two sides are going together. I hope there are good results and I hope it will be a safe Olympics. I'm glad it's going in a positive direction."

It's been three decades since the Olympic flame was last in South Korea when the country hosted the 1988 Summer Games.

Now a new generation can hope that the Winter Games will be the catalyst for permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula. Shane Hahm, CGTN.