Winter Games starts amidst political drama

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Pyeongchang, February 9: Though South Korea is pinning its hopes on the 2018 Winter Olympics as a venue to demonstrate its efforts to defuse tensions and foster inter-Korean rapprochement, things are not looking bright though.

The Pyoengchang Games, which began on Friday (February 9) will see athletes from the two Koreas march together under one peninsula flag for the first time in more than a decade.

Nearly 500 North Koreans are participating in the Winter Games, which run till February 25, including a cheering squad, art troupe and taekwondo demonstration team.

But the inter-Korean Olympics detente has raised concerns in Washington and Tokyo that Seoul may undermine the US-led campaign of global pressure to get Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear and missile programs.

In the opening ceremony North Korea also had an uncomfortable encounter with US.

Kim Yong Nam, North Korea's nominal head of state and leader Kim Jong Un's younger sister, Kim Yo Jong had a face off with US Vice President Mike Pence for the first time.

Pence has kept open the possibility for some contact with the North Koreans in South Korea, while reiterating Washington's insistence that denuclearization is a necessary condition for peace on the Korean peninsula.

With North Korea in no mood for talks with US, Washington's campaign to put maximum pressure on Pyongyang may not succeed.

Concerns over North Korea have overshadowed the Winter Games, which Seoul and the organisers have proclaimed a "peace Olympics", urging Pyongyang to participate, unlike the 1988 Summer Olympics in the South, which it boycotted.

Just before the opening ceremony, hundreds of anti-North Korea protesters scuffled with riot police outside the stadium.

Protesters burnt North Korean flags and pictures of the reclusive state's leader, Kim Jong Un, as around 800 people gathered for a march towards the stadium where the Olympic torch was lit in what Seoul wants to become a symbol of peace.

All said and done, political diplomacy is likely to take a backseat as South Korea hosts one of the most controversial Winter Games of all times.

(With Agency inputs)