Will the Koreas' Olympic Compromise Work?

By Julia Islam on January 24, 2018

Both North and South Korea were thinking of marching under one flag during the opening ceremony of the Olympics. On January 17th, 2018, the decision became a reality as North and South Korea agreed to march under one flag. The decision was part of the Koreas’ Olympic compromise in which South Korea talks with North Korea to ensure that North Korea can participate in the Olympics. However, some experts like Francis Grice treat the compromise itself with the caution. Writing for the News Lens, Professor Francis Grice believes North Korea is talking to South Korea to save time for their own missile development.

North Korean nuclear missile flying
(via Pixabay)

North Korea is talking to South Korea in order to buy time for their missile development. Francis Grice, states that the North Koreans are using the North Vietnamese tactic of “fighting while talking, talking while fighting” in which the possibility of peace talks are brought up to dampen the commitment of war and encourage division in alliances. The Northern Vietnamese had no desire for a negotiated end and only utilized talks as a means to their end: reunification under communist terms. Grice assumes that North Korea is doing the same strategy to continue their nuclear missile development.

Like the North Vietnamese, the North Koreans have no desire for a negotiated end and rather, utilize the talks as a means to their end: the completion of their nuclear arsenal.  By talking to South Korea, the North Koreans could dampen the commitment to a military option and encourage a wedge in the alliance with the United States. Professor Grice already argued that it is already happening, with the United States vowing that they won’t bring up the topic of military option while the intra-Korean talks are happening and South Korea advocating for the lessening of North Korea’s sanctions. At that point, North Korea is getting what they wanted in addition to more time for developing their nuclear arsenal. Therefore, Professor Francis Grice calls the Olympic compromise “a shifty ploy.”

To sum it all up, Professor Grice treats the Olympic compromise with caution because he believes North Korea is talking to South Korea for pragmatic purposes. North Korea seeks to complete the development of their nuclear arsenal. In order to do that, North Korea needs to buy time by talking to South Korea. Henceforth, the Koreas’ Olympic compromise might not be a step towards peace, but maybe, another step towards a future conflict.

Follow Uloop

Apply to Write for Uloop News

Join the Uloop News Team

Discuss This Article

College Textbooks Listings

College Algebra, Alternate

Author: Ron Larson

ISBN: 0495970654

ISBN13: 9780495970651

Integrated Advertising, Promotion, and Marketing...

Authors: Kenneth E. Clow, Donald Baack, Donald E. Baack

ISBN: 0132538962

ISBN13: 9780132538961

Healthcare Research

Authors: Joan Hohl, Paula Roberts, Helena Priest

ISBN: 0470519320

ISBN13: 9780470519325

See all College Textbooks Listings

Get Top Stories Delivered Weekly

Back to Top

Log In

Contact Us

Upload An Image

Please select an image to upload
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format
OR
Provide URL where image can be downloaded
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format

By clicking this button,
you agree to the terms of use

By clicking "Create Alert" I agree to the Uloop Terms of Use.

Image not available.

Add a Photo

Please select a photo to upload
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format