North Korea to show off military prowess on eve of PyeongChang Olympics
By Lee Min-hyung
North Korea is apparently preparing to show off its combat prowess by holding a large military parade on the eve of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, in a move that will revive tension in the thaw in inter-Korean relations.
The reclusive regime changed a national holiday celebrating the foundation of its armed forces to Feb. 8, a day before the start of the Winter Olympics, according to the Korean Central News Agency, Monday. For decades, Pyongyang has honored the founding anniversary of the Korean People’s Army on April 25.
The move is in contrast to the warming bilateral relations between the two Koreas, with Seoul and Pyongyang recently reaching an agreement to form a joint women’s ice hockey team and use the “unified Korea” flag during the opening and closing ceremonies for the Olympics.
This is the first time since North Korean leader Kim Jong-un took office in 2011 that the North has teamed up with the South for sports diplomacy. In a New Year address, Kim said he was willing to help South Korea successfully host the Olympics.
This has spread a peaceful mood across the Korean Peninsula, with both sides speeding up exchanges of pre-Olympics delegates this week.
But the military parade has stirred a strong backlash. Politicians here urged the North to postpone the plan until after the Olympics. The show of force will come on the same day a North Korean art troupe performs in South Korea to celebrate the Olympics.
“The military parade is a reckless provocation against the PyeongChang Winter Olympics,” Rep. Choung Tae-ok, a spokesman for the main opposition Liberty Korea Party, said.
“Seoul and Washington came to terms with Pyongyang over delaying a joint U.S.-South Korea military exercise. We demand North Korea put off the military parade until after the closing of the Olympics. Kim Jong-un should comply with our demand for us to host a peaceful Olympics.”
Choung also urged President Moon Jae-in to call on North Korea to stop the large-scale military provocation.
South Korea’s Ministry of Unification said Seoul is keeping a close eye on any military threats from Pyongyang, and is putting its priority on a safe Olympics.
“Under the close alliance with the U.S., South Korea is tracking any of North Korea’s provocative postures in real time,” unification ministry spokesman Baek Tae-hyun told reporters Wednesday.
He said the government will strive for the Olympics to become a landmark event that fosters peace on the Korean Peninsula and in the world.
But the government declined to comment on any specific reaction to possible military threats during the Olympics.
The Ministry of Defense also said it is reviewing the purpose of the founding anniversary date change and will consider countermeasures.