The two Koreas marched together and South Korea’s president shared a historic handshake with Kim Jong Un’s sister as the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics opened in a spirit of intense rapprochement on Friday. At a glittering but sub-zero ceremony, South and North Korea brought the crowd to its feet as they entered behind the blue-and-white Korean unification flag. South Korean President Moon Jae-in shook the hand of a smiling Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, as he entered the VIP seating section, and again as the Korean athletes marched. It cemented what has been a rapid improvement in Korean ties since North Korea — after months of fierce nuclear rhetoric and missile tests — agreed last month to attend its first Olympics in the South. Kim Yo Jong, the first member of the North’s ruling dynasty to venture South since the Korean War, forms part of the highest level delegation ever to cross the border. South and North Korea last marched together at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin. They also made the symbolic gesture at the opening of the 2000 and 2004 Olympics in Sydney and Athens. “You will inspire us all to live together in peace and harmony despite all the differences we have,” said International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach, before Moon declared the Games open. “You will inspire us by competing for the highest honour in the Olympic spirit of excellence, respect and fair play,” said Bach. “You can only… [Read full story]
Japanese PM Shinzo Abe (Photo: Kyodo/VNA) Mr. Shinzo Abe’s decision came after reports he would not attend due to a dispute over “comfort women” forced to work in Japan’s wartime military brothels. “The two governments of Japan and the RoK have discussed Prime Minister Abe’s visiting the RoK for the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, and welcome Japan’s decision to officially announce the visit,” RoK’s President Moon Jae-in’s Blue House said in a statement ahead of Abe’s remarks to reporters. PM Abe addressed the Japanese parliament saying he would use the Olympics trip to reiterate support for the ongoing international pressure campaign…... [read more]
Athletes from 87 nations paraded before 40,000 people in the Fisht Stadium before president Vladimir Putin declared the Games open. The Olympic flame was lit by Russian former triple gold medallists Vladislav Tretiak and Irina Rodnina as fireworks illuminated the night sky. Spectators inside the stadium and television viewers worldwide were treated to a glittering show lasting nearly three hours and featuring 22 tonnes of fireworks. In a grand finale, tennis star Maria Sharapova, who grew up in Sochi, carried the Olympic flame into the stadium before it passed through the hands of pole vault world record holder Yelena Isinbayeva,…... [read more]
(VOVworld) - The 2014 Winter Olympics opening ceremony will occur today in Sochi, Russia, attended by 40,000 guests, including Russia's President Vladimir Putin. 37,000 security officers have been put on alert in response to warnings from North Caucacus-based Islamic terrorist groups. Russian security force fears that a woman, intent on conducting a suicide bombing, could escape their detection. Security analysts strongly believe terrorist activities will take place somewhere in Russia to damage Putin's prestige and the 2014 Winter Olympics.... [read more]
Visa enjoys the exclusive right to be the only credit card that can be used for payments at the Winter Games as it is an official global sponsor of the International Olympic Committee.The Visa-only policy is likely to cause public inconvenience for visitors, especially Chinese who mostly use China's UnionPay credit cards.South Korean officials said they expect many Chinese to visit the PyeongChang Winter Olympics as Beijing will host the 2022 Winter Games Olympics.Those who do not have Visa credit cards can purchase Visa prepaid cards with other credit for transactions at Olympic venues.Vending machines are set to be installed…... [read more]
Japanese PM Shinzo Abe (Photo: Kyodo/VNA) The only thing that will give the talks meaning is committed and concrete action by Pyongyang to abandon nuclear weapons and missiles in a complete, verifiable and irreversible way,” PM Abe told the NHK broadcaster. The Republic of Korea (RoK)’s Unification Ministry Spokesman Baek Tae-hyun said the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) side confirmed its consent to hold talks on January 9th in a notice sent via the communications channel in the "Truce Village" of Panmunjom. The two sides agreed to work on the details of the talks "through the exchange of documents,"…... [read more]
