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| South Korean President Moon Jae-in, right, meets with International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach during this year's United Nations General Assembly in New York, Wednesday (KST). Yonhap |
By Kim Yoo-chul
UNITED NATIONS ― President Moon Jae-in told the chief of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) the he will push forward with a plan to form a "unified team" with North Korea for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
"I believe last year's Winter Olympics in PyeongChang was just huge in terms of facilitating dialogue between the Koreas and between the United States and North Korea. If the Koreas send a unified team to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, then that will also significantly help back up moves for bringing co-prosperity in East Asia," Moon said at the start of his meeting Wednesday (KST) with IOC President Thomas Bach during this year's United Nations General Assembly.
Appreciating the IOC's support for the PyeongChang Olympics, the South Korean leader told the IOC chief that Seoul will seek a joint bid with Pyongyang to host the 2032 Olympic Games. The IOC head welcomed the suggestion stating the IOC would support this.
But it was unknown whether or not the President will file a complaint about the Japanese decision to use the Rising Sun flag at next year's Tokyo Olympics. Earlier, Seoul officially asked the IOC to ban the flag during the upcoming Olympics as it was a symbol used by Japan's Imperial Army and Navy during World War II, and also a painful reminder for Koreans of Japan's occupation of the Korean Peninsula from 1910 to 1945.
Separately, during his participation to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the birth of Mahatma Gandhi, Moon dubbed him "the symbol of nonviolent resistance for freedom and peace."
"Ordinary nameless people stood up to Japanese imperialists during the Japanese occupation on the peninsula through the strength of nonviolence; and the spirit of the March First Independence Movement served as the foundation for a democratic republic. India and Korea, both having suffered from colonial rule, were partners who gave inspiration to and courage for each other's liberation. Now, India and Korea are advancing our special strategic partnership further based on the shared values of democracy and common prosperity," Moon said, according to Cheong Wa Dae press pool reports.
Earlier, Moon held a summit with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and they agreed to expand bilateral cooperation focusing on energy and arms development.
"Australian PM Morrison vowed to continue his support for Moon's peace drive. Moon told Morrison the South Korean government will support ongoing projects for the return of the remains of Australian soldiers who died at Arrowhead Ridge, where fierce battles were fought during the 1950-1953 Korean War," said Cheong Wa Dae spokeswoman Ko Min-jung.
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