Korean President Moon Jae-in today signalled another important step in the newly-found friendship with Kim Jong Un who had threatened to destroy his country.
The Korean leader, who successfully negotiated a political minefield when he placed US Vice President in seating close to the North Korean leader’s sister at the Olympic opening ceremony, said relations had improved.
He was confident, he declared, that the way was now open for a thaw between the US and North Korea because of the Winter Olympics.
North Korean cheerleaders have made their mark at the games, though they’ve been warned against mixing with foreigners
North Korean cheerleaders giving their backing to the unified Korean ice hockey team with Moon Jae-jin in the background, second front left, along with Kim Yo-jong, far left
Both Kim and US President Trump had talked-up their nuclear powers and capabilities in the months leading up to the Pyeongchang games.
The US Vice President Mike Pence and Kim’s sister Kim Yo Jon ignored each other in the Olympic VIP box as the Korean leader played host with other dignitaries as the games opened.
But the North Korean leader’s sister delivered a letter inviting Moon to his country.
Moon said he had not yet reached a decision on whether to accept the invitation.
But he told journalists at the Winter Olympics tonight: ‘Another very important goal that we set out was to make this an Olympics of peace.
Kim Jong Un’s sister Kim Yo Jong (L) hands over an autographed letter from Kim Jong-un to Moon Jae-in inviting him to a summit in the North
‘Through North Korea’s participation in the Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games, we were able to lower some of the tensions that were becoming very latent on the Korean Peninsula.
‘As a result, we think we were able to host a very safe Winter Olympic Games.
‘Furthermore, we have a South-North unified team. We also marched together at the opening ceremony, cheered together and there were many cultural performances by North Koreans.
‘I believe that this has been very moving, not only for Koreans but also for the world as well.
‘There has been many achievements in advancing inter-Korean talks, and I hope that this will lead to an improvement in inter-Korean relations – not only inter-Korean relations, but we also believe that there has been slowly, but gradually, a growing common sense for the need of dialogue between the United States and North Korea.
South Korean president said he hoped relations with the North Korean regime of Kim Jong-un can improve as a result of the games
‘We hope that the dialogue between the two Koreas will be able to lead to dialogue between the United States and North Korea, and eventually de-nuclearisation.’
He said the Olympics, which are mid-way and have been largely free of any political disturbances, were successful.
He added: ‘I believe that we’ve achieved many of the goals that we set out to achieve for the Pyeongchang Olympics and Paralympic Games.
‘The Olympics itself has operated very smoothly, and we have seen many records come out of these Olympics.’
Kim sent 22 athletes to join South Korea as one team and 280 cheerleaders to support them.
But the dictator kept a beady eye on the young women through his security network who shadow the cheerleaders.
Daily Mail online was told they had been ordered not to make eye contact or talk to strangers and to avoid applauding US athletes.