By Do Je-hae
Amid the unconventional detente between the United States and North Korea following the historic Trump-Kim Jong-un encounter at the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), senior South Korean politicians are making a last-minute request to the North Korean leader to send a delegation to the upcoming swimming event to be held in the southwestern city of Gwangju.
They still have their hopes up, in light of the unique role that sporting events, such as the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, have played in promoting reconciliation between the two Koreas. Two months after that event, President Moon held his summit with the North Korean leader.
Rep. Park Jie-won of the Party for Democracy and Peace (PDP), chief of staff to the late President Kim Dae-jung, has been at the forefront of politicians rallying for the North's participation in the event, to be held under the slogan "dive into peace."
In a Facebook post, the lawmaker Park urged the North Korean leader to dispatch athletes to the regional city, which brands itself as a "city of peace." "It's still not too late," Park said. "The delegation will prove to the world the strength of inter-Korean relations and provide an occasion for the Gwangju event to succeed."
Park made the request on behalf of the Gwangju event when he met with the North Korea leader's sister Kim Yo-jong at Panmunjeom on June 12 to receive flowers and a message of condolence from the North Korean leader on the death of Lee hee-ho, former President Kim's widow, in his capacity as vice chair of the Kim Dae Jung Peace Center.
The veteran lawmaker was closely involved in arranging the first inter-Korean summit in 2000 between President Kim, the architect of the "Sunshine Policy" of engagement with North Korea, and then-North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, the incumbent's father.
The registration deadline passed recently without any North Korean athletes. With the opening of the event less than a week away, North Korean participation is unclear at this point. However, the chief of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) hinted at the possibility of having North Korean athletes at the event.
"The athletes' registration is over, but preparations have been completed to enable the North Koreans to join even if they notify us of their participation on the opening day," DPK Chairman Lee Hae-chan said during an event held last week in the city. "Their participation will bring special meaning to the slogan 'dive into peace.'"
Gwangju is set to host the 18th International Swimming Federation (FINA) World Championships, one of the world's largest swimming events, from July 12 to 28, with more than 2,900 athletes from 194 countries registered to participate. Gwangju is also not giving up until the last minute. "We firmly believe North Korean athletes will come and we have prepared their accommodation," Gwangju Mayor Lee Yong-seop, also head of the organizing committee for the event, said recently, adding the city council adopted a resolution urging the participation of North Koreans.
President Moon Jae-in was briefed about the level of preparations for the event, but he has not publically called on North Korea to participate, Cheong Wa Dae said.
Amid the unconventional detente between the United States and North Korea following the historic Trump-Kim Jong-un encounter at the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), senior South Korean politicians are making a last-minute request to the North Korean leader to send a delegation to the upcoming swimming event to be held in the southwestern city of Gwangju.
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| A swimmer trains at one of the venues of the FINA World Championships in Gwangju, Monday. Yonhap |
They still have their hopes up, in light of the unique role that sporting events, such as the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, have played in promoting reconciliation between the two Koreas. Two months after that event, President Moon held his summit with the North Korean leader.
Rep. Park Jie-won of the Party for Democracy and Peace (PDP), chief of staff to the late President Kim Dae-jung, has been at the forefront of politicians rallying for the North's participation in the event, to be held under the slogan "dive into peace."
In a Facebook post, the lawmaker Park urged the North Korean leader to dispatch athletes to the regional city, which brands itself as a "city of peace." "It's still not too late," Park said. "The delegation will prove to the world the strength of inter-Korean relations and provide an occasion for the Gwangju event to succeed."
Park made the request on behalf of the Gwangju event when he met with the North Korea leader's sister Kim Yo-jong at Panmunjeom on June 12 to receive flowers and a message of condolence from the North Korean leader on the death of Lee hee-ho, former President Kim's widow, in his capacity as vice chair of the Kim Dae Jung Peace Center.
The veteran lawmaker was closely involved in arranging the first inter-Korean summit in 2000 between President Kim, the architect of the "Sunshine Policy" of engagement with North Korea, and then-North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, the incumbent's father.
The registration deadline passed recently without any North Korean athletes. With the opening of the event less than a week away, North Korean participation is unclear at this point. However, the chief of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) hinted at the possibility of having North Korean athletes at the event.
"The athletes' registration is over, but preparations have been completed to enable the North Koreans to join even if they notify us of their participation on the opening day," DPK Chairman Lee Hae-chan said during an event held last week in the city. "Their participation will bring special meaning to the slogan 'dive into peace.'"
Gwangju is set to host the 18th International Swimming Federation (FINA) World Championships, one of the world's largest swimming events, from July 12 to 28, with more than 2,900 athletes from 194 countries registered to participate. Gwangju is also not giving up until the last minute. "We firmly believe North Korean athletes will come and we have prepared their accommodation," Gwangju Mayor Lee Yong-seop, also head of the organizing committee for the event, said recently, adding the city council adopted a resolution urging the participation of North Koreans.
President Moon Jae-in was briefed about the level of preparations for the event, but he has not publically called on North Korea to participate, Cheong Wa Dae said.
