North Korea Leadership Watch

Research and Analysis on the DPRK Leadership

Foreign Ministry Issues Statement about DPRK-US Interaction at Pyeongchang Olympics

Jo Yong Sam [Photo: Rodong Sinmun]

DPRK Ministry of Foreign Affairs Department Director-General Jo Yong Sam [Cho Yo’ng-sam] issued a statement about potential interactions between US government officials and the DPRK’s high-level delegation on the sidelines of the opening ceremonies of the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, ROK.

 

On Tuesday a spokesperson for the US Department of State told a reporter over the possible contact between the DPRK’s delegation participating in the opening ceremony of the 23rd Winter Olympics and the US vice-president that the US evidently has no plan to contact with the DPRK during and after the Olympics.

US Vice-President Pence, too, said that he didn’t press for any contact with the DPRK’s delegation and asked the south Korean authorities to fix a schedule not to encounter the delegation. And he claimed that they would see what is happening.

This is the height of sarcasm.

We have never begged for dialogue with the U.S. nor in the future, too.

Explicitly speaking, we have no intention to meet with the US 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.

We are not going to use such sports festival as the Winter Olympics as a political lever. There is no need to do so.

The US had better act with discretion, well aware that its imprudent word and deeds will only show itself in a more awkward position.

An affiliate of 38 North