“I thought it felt like good reporting to me”, Thompson told CNBC.
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SEOUL, South Korea – Seoul on Wednesday, February 14, approved a $2.6 million budget to cover expenses for North Koreans visiting for the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, officials said, after the North’s leader praised the South’s hospitality.
Meanwhile in Washington, senior figures including U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said Pyongyang was using the Olympics for propaganda purposes.
Days earlier South Korean President Moon Jae-in had snubbed Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for advocating military drills against North Korea.
The article quickly drew criticism that it was fawning over her.
Pence on Wednesday said Kim Yo Jong works for a government that represents “evil the likes of which we have witnessed rarely”, noting Kim Jong Un reportedly ordered the murder of his family members and is guilty of human rights violations. So when she starts rolling her head and giving more emotion, I’m like, ‘Yeah!
“The participation of North Korean athletes and cultural troupes in the Olympics has not been without controversy”, the BBC notes, “as some critics question the North’s commitment to reconciliation and others warn it will change nothing on the nuclear front”.
Moon enjoyed a diplomatic victory during the games after Kim Yo Jong delivered an invitation from her brother to hold the first inter-Korean summit in more than a decade in Pyongyang.
Meanwhile, Buzzfeed posted a critical piece about Kim Yo Jong on Saturday, describing her as “a garbage monster”. The IOC, for example, agreed to provide Samsung smartphones to all athletes but asked the North Koreans not to take theirs home with them.
Spokesperson Katie Rayford said Buzzfeed News stands by its story.
“I came to tonight’s game because I wanted to support our team when they play against Japan”, said Kim Yoon-hye, a 28-year-old teacher from Seoul.
They were never likely to finish on the podium at the Pyeongchang Games, but still brought the crowd to life, a symbol of the sporting detente between North and South at this event. And as Kim and Ryom’s music accelerated, they led the audience in clapping along.
The New Year ushered in a lot of “new” resolutions and goals from individuals. “This is evil the likes of which we have witnessed rarely in our time around the world”.
Disclosure: CNBC parent NBCUniversal owns NBC Sports and NBC Olympics.
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Park Geum-taek, 44, from Olympic host city Pyeongchang, added: “Given the history of our countries, I feel like we must win all sporting games against Japan”.
