Joint Press
Release of Inter-Korean Working-Level Talks
South
and North Korea held working-level talks regarding the North’s
participation in the PyeongChang Winter Olympics and Paralympics at
Panmunjeom 「Peace House」 on January 17. South and North Korea agreed
as follows :
1.
The number of participating North Korean athletes and their
participating events at the PyeongChang Winter Olympics will be
decided through negotiation between the IOC and the National Olympic
Committees of the two Koreas.
2.
South and North Korea will march in together at the PyeongChang
Winter Olympics opening ceremony with the Korean unification flag,
and will organize a joint North-South women’s ice hockey team. This
will be decided through negotiations between the IOC and National
Olympic Committees of the two Koreas.
3.
North Korea will dispatch a cheering squad of around 230 members.
They will cheer for events of the PyeongChang Olympics as well as
games of South and North Korean athletes, and will jointly cheer
with the South’s cheering squad. South and North Korea will
guarantee activities of the General Association of Korean Residents
in Japan(Chongryon)’s cheering squad.
4.
North Korea will send around 30 Taekwondo demonstrators. The
demonstration team will perform in PyeongChang and Seoul, and
consultations for settling specific dates of the demonstrations will continue.
5.
North Korea will dispatch a press corps that is necessary to cover
events of the athletes, cheering squad, and Taekwondo demonstrators
at the PyeongChang Winter Olympics. South Korea will provide support
for the North Korean press corps’ activities, and the range of
support for media coverage of the Winter Olympics will be decided
through consultations between the IOC and National Olympic
Committees of the two Koreas.
6.
North Korea’s National Olympic Committee delegation, athletes,
cheering squad, Taekwondo demonstrators, and journalists will come
and go through the land route of the Gyeongui Line. Athletes will
visit the South on February 1, followed by North’s National Olympic
Committee delegation, cheering squad, Taekwondo demonstrators, and
journalists on February 7. The returning date of each group may vary
and will be carried out at a convenient time after going through
consultations between the two Koreas.
7.
The North will dispatch a preliminary team from January 25 to 27 to
inspect stadiums and local facilities needed for activities of the
athletes, Taekwondo demonstrators, and press corps.
8.
North Korea will dispatch around 150 National Paralympic Committee
delegates, athletes, cheering and performing squads, and journalists
to the Winter Paralympics, and further negotiations pertaining to
such matters will continue.
9.
South and North Korea will hold a joint culture event at the North
side of Mt. Geumgang and hold a joint training session of
South-North skiers at North Korea’s Masikryong Ski Resort before the
PyeongChang Winter Olympics. South Korea will send a preliminary
inspection team to check facilities from January 23 to 25.
10.
North Korea’s delegation will follow the South’s guidance and
procedures, and South Korea will guarantee the safety and
convenience of North Korea’s delegation.
11.
Further specific matters regarding the North’s participation to the
PyeongChang Winter Olympics, joint culture event at Mt. Geumgang,
and dispatch of a preliminary inspection team will be discussed in
the form of document exchange through the Panmunjeom communications channel.
January
17, 2018
Panmunjeom
*Unofficial translation