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News > World

North Korea, US To Maintain Standoff During Winter Olympics

  • Members of North Korean cheering squad arrive at a hotel in Inje, South Korea, Febb. 7, 2018.

    Members of North Korean cheering squad arrive at a hotel in Inje, South Korea, Febb. 7, 2018. | Photo: Reuters

Published 8 February 2018
Opinion

White House spokesman Raj Shah confirmed Thursday that no meetings between US and North Korea have been planned.

Contrary to popular opinion, North Korea and the United States will not taking advantage of the Winter Olympics to hold political dialogue for peace, North’s KCNA news agency said.

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“We have never begged for dialogue with the U.S. nor in the future, too,” the state news agency said, citing Jo Yong Sam, a director-general in the North’s foreign ministry.

“Explicitly speaking, we have no intention to meet with the U.S. side during the stay in South Korea ... Our delegation’s visit to South Korea is only to take part in the Olympics and hail its successful holding.”

However, the North Korean delegation of political officials will meet with South Korean President Moon Jae-in Saturday.

Representing the NK President Kim Jong Un will be his sister, Kim Yo-jong, marking the Kim family’s first official summit meeting since 2007. Yo-jong will arrive in South Korea Friday, accompanied by numerous officials.

White House spokesman Raj Shah confirmed Thursday that no meetings between Vice President Mike Pence or the president’s daughter, Ivanka Trump, have been planned.

That same day, in a display of strength, North Korea honored the anniversary of its military’s foundation with an enormous parade which trailed down the streets of Pyongyang in a wave of red army coats, swinging saber dancers, and what appeared to be ballistic missiles.

International journalists were prohibited from observing the celebration and coverage from the large-scale event was withheld for hours after the parade had finished.

Trump has ordered Pentagon and White House officials to begin planning a military parade in Washington similar to the Bastille Day parade he saw in Paris in July, the Washington Post said.

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