China and South Korea are close neighbours but recent times the tensions rise between these countries, the reason is the 2018 Winter Olympics will take place in Pyeongchang next February.
The 2018 Winter Olympics will take place in South Korean city Pyeongchang, which is 110 miles east of Seoul. From Feb. 9 to Feb. 25 the country will welcome the athletes from all over the world. Moreover, 2018 WOG followed by the Paralympics Games from March 9 to March 18.
The development underscores the geopolitical complexities of north-east Asia, a region increasingly overshadowed by the threat of a conflict between the US and North Korea over Pyongyang’s development of strategic nuclear weapons. The ban on tour groups by China, confirmed by two South Korean tourism groups, comes less than two months after Beijing agreed to cease harsh economic retaliation against South Korean companies and organisations over Seoul’s decision to a host a US-operated missile shield.
South Korea is pushing the U.S. to postpone joint military exercises until after the Winter Olympics as an olive branch to North Korea, a move the administration is considering, the South’s president told NBC News on Tuesday.
Olympic Games in Pyeongchang and the security issue
It also comes less than a week after Moon Jae-in, South Korea’s president, went to China on a state visit that was hailed by officials as heralding a “new era” in ties between the two Asian neighbours. However, the visit was marred by a series of unfortunate incidents, including the hospitalisation of a South Korean journalist who was kicked in the head by a Chinese security guard at one of the official events.
It has also bolstered security for the event. Seoul plans to deploy around 5,000 troops, double the number at the 2002 World Cup. It has ratcheted up cybersecurity to ward off hacking attempts.
Moon sought to allay any fears Tuesday, telling NBC News that “there’s no reason to be concerned about the safety, and as the president of the Republic of Korea I assure you that.”
Mr Moon added:
“I hope that this Olympics will be able to promote the peace between the North and South Korea and become an Olympics for peace.”
