Two North Korean and South Korean gymnasts have shown the world what the Olympics is all about as they posed for a selfie together in Rio.
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But gymnasts Hong Un-Jong from North Korea and Lee Eun-Ju from South Korea stole the show with their show of unity, despite the feud still raging between their respective home nations.
“This is why we do the Olympics”, tweeted Ian Bremmer, a political scientist.
“I have won three (50m pistol) gold medals at the Olympics, but this one is the happiest and most valuable because this was the most challenging competition and I was under the greatest pressure”.
There are six other Kosovo athletes competing in the games, with only two events shared with Serbians.
It was a rare moment of inter-Korean friendship. People have highlighted the contrast between the gymnasts’ level of diplomacy and the behaviour of the Lebanese Olympic Team, who allegedly refused to ride on the same bus with Israeli athletes, the BBC reported.
In South Korea praising the communist North is illegal.
North Korea and South Korea have been at war since the 1950s.
“Jin Jong-oh is a world-renowned shooter”, Kim said.
The North Korean senior official also held meetings with Swiss President Johann Schneider-Ammann and Captain Regent of San Marino, Andrea Ugolini, besides the vice presidents of Angola, Equatorial Guinea and Zambia, KCNA said.
Still Yoon says sports can provide an opening for dialogue when other avenues have been shut down.
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So while it’s OK for South Korean athletes to talk to the North Koreans they meet at the Olympics, they must later submit reports about the encounters to their Olympic committee, which will then pass the information to the government.
