[Photo by Namkung Jinwoong = timeid@ajunews.com]
South Korean President Moon Jae-in urged North Korea to make a decision on its participation in next year's Winter Olympics amid growing jitters over its unresponsiveness to a spate of peace overtures.
International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach has supported Moon's initiative to draw North Korea into the Winter Games in South Korea's eastern ski resort of Pyeongchang. Moon has suggested the North's participation would boost publicity and ticket sales.
At an event Monday in Pyeongchang, Moon called for North Korea's decision, saying South Korea would always leave the door open for its participation in next year's event. "We will not rush nor be pessimistic while keeping the door open until the last moment."
"It's now up to North Korea as the IOC has opened the door for its participation," Moon said, pledging full government support so that South Korea would successfully host the Winter Olympics.
The North has turned down an offer of inter-Korea dialogue with a tacit response following the launch of what it claimed to be a workable intercontinental ballistic missile.
reporter
Lim Chang-won
cwlim34@ajunews.com
