Is Pence’s hard line on North Korea evidence of a split in the US-South Korea alliance?
The PyeongChang Olympic Games officially kicked off with the Opening Ceremony on February 9. In one the most anticipated moments, North and South Korean athletes marched together behind the white-and-blue Korean Unification Flag. The last time that occurred in an Olympic context was at the 2006 Winter Games in Turin, Italy.
The attendance of North Korean athletes, which followed a flurry of diplomacy in January and February, was just the tip of the iceberg, however. After North Korean leader Kim Jong-un unexpectedly signaled a willingness to support the Games in South Korea in his New Year’s address, the Moon Jae-in administration in Seoul moved quickly to make good on the opportunity. As a result, nearly 500 North Koreans have traveled to South Korea for the games, including top officials. Most notably, North Korea’s ceremonial head of state, Kim Yong-nam, and Kim Jong-un’s sister, Kim Yo-jong, were both in attendance at the Opening Ceremony. Kim Yong-nam is the highest-ranking North Korean official to ever visit the South, while Kim Yo-jong is the first member of the ruling family to do so.
Meanwhile, the United States was represented at PyeongChang by Vice President Mike Pence. Ahead of the Olympics, there was much speculation about whether Pence would meet with members of the North Korean delegation, potentially signaling a willingness to support a broader U. S.-North Korea dialogue.
That seemed unlikely, however, given the tone of Pence’s remarks ahead of his arrival in South Korea.
During a visit to Yokota Air Base in Japan, Pence devoted a sizable portion of his speech to condemning “the rogue regime in North Korea” for its dismal human rights record, support for international terrorism, and pursuit of nuclear weapons.
“The American people, the people of Japan, and freedom-loving people across the wider world long for the day when peace and prosperity replace Pyongyang’s belligerence and brutality,” Pence said.
