Korea at the 2018 Winter Paralympics facts for kids
Korea sent athletes to compete at the 2018 Winter Paralympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. Even though North Korea and South Korea usually compete as separate countries, they marched together under one flag during the Opening Ceremonies of the 2018 Winter Games. This was a special moment because the two countries are still officially at war, as the Korean War never truly ended with a peace treaty. They had marched together under one flag before at other Olympic Games, like the Summer Olympics in 2000 and 2004, and the Winter Games in 2006.
Competing as One Team
The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) announced that North Korea would join the Winter Games for the very first time. The North Korean athletes competed under a special Korean unification flag, just like their team for the 2018 Winter Olympics did. This was North Korea's first time at the Winter Paralympics, though they had participated in the Summer Paralympics in 2012 and 2016.
On January 1, 2018, North Korea's leader, Kim Jong-un, shared his wish for North Koreans to compete at the 2018 Winter Olympics and Paralympics. Later, on January 20, North Korean officials met with the IPC in Lausanne, Switzerland. At this meeting, North Korea and South Korea asked the IPC if they could compete as one combined team.
Then, on February 27, the two countries met again at a small village near the border with South Korea. They talked about how they would compete together at the Winter Games. The government of South Korea believed that North Korea's participation in the Games was very important. They hoped it would help reduce the tensions between the two countries.
North Korea and South Korea are still officially at war. The Korean War ended in 1953 with an armistice, which is like a ceasefire, but not a peace treaty. This means the war never officially finished. Both Koreas claim the land of the other and do not fully recognize each other as independent countries.
Despite these differences, there have been times when sports brought them together. For example, at the 2000 and 2004 Summer Olympics, and the 2006 Winter Games, the two Koreas marched together. They used the Korean unification flag at the opening ceremonies as a sign of trying to make peace.
Working Towards Unity
The idea of North Korea joining the 2018 Games became more complicated in late 2017. There were strong statements from both North Korea, led by Kim Jong-un, and the United States, led by Donald Trump.
However, after talks between North and South Korea on January 17, it was confirmed that North Korea would indeed participate in both the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Pyeongchang. This was seen as a positive step for peace.
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