Olympics bid offers clue to Kim's future vision for N. Korea: experts

SEOUL, Sept. 21 (Yonhap) -- Following the latest inter-Korean summit in Pyongyang, speculation is mounting about North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's long-term vision for his isolated communist state, after he made various open-minded gestures towards his South Korean guests.

Experts in Seoul said Friday that an inter-Korean summit agreement to jointly push to host the 2032 Olympics may offer some clues to Kim's vision for the future of North Korea.

The second clause of Article 4 in the Pyeongyang Joint Declaration signed by South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Kim on Wednesday said, "The two sides agreed to actively participate together in the 2020 Summer Olympic Games and other international games, and to cooperate in bidding for the joint hosting of the 2032 Summer Olympic Games."

"The hosting of the Olympic Games is an opportunity for developing and developed countries to grow economically, but is beyond the reach of countries without growth potential," said Kim Yeon-chul, head of the Korea Institute for National Unification (KINU).

"Chairman Kim (of the North's State Affairs Commission) may have an ambition to develop North Korea into a nation capable of hosting the Olympics by 2032."

The 2032 Olympics is still 14 years away, and a full-fledged bidding competition is expected to begin in 2025.

But Kim may have already begun drawing the image of North Korea in 14 years by accepting South Korea's proposal to co-host the 2032 Olympics, the analysts in Seoul said.

They noted North Korea should broadly meet at least two conditions to be qualified to host the Olympic Games. One is having the economic capability to build various types of infrastructure, and the other is becoming a normal state and member of the international community.

At present, North Korea's sports, transportation and hotel infrastructures are seen as insufficient to host an Olympics-level international event.

Kim's wish to host the Olympics indicates his determination to attain rapid economic development and build various sports and accommodation facilities suitable for an Olympic host state.

Indeed, Moon told reporters in Seoul on Thursday that Kim expressed a wish to concentrate on economic development after finishing denuclearization as soon as possible.

Denuclearization will also be crucial to the North becoming a regular member of the international community.

"The security situation is a very important factor in hosting the Olympics, as seen in some countries' reluctance last year to participate in the PyeongChang Winter Olympics. The North's leader may have denuclearization in mind by agreeing to push to hold the Olympics in Pyongyang," said KINU director Kim.

Another source in Seoul said that Chairman Kim dreams of a rich country without any security risk. "Kim has shifted his policy goal to economic growth through a decision by the ruling Workers' Party's plenary meeting and is now seeking to achieve his goal through denuclearization talks with the United States," said the source.

The bidding competition for the 2032 Olympics has yet to take shape, but Germany, Australia and India are said to be interested in hosting the games.

The experts share the view that in order for the two Koreas' joint bid for the 2032 Olympics to be successful, North Korea should complete its denuclearization, join various international organizations, engage in peace-promoting external activities and be recognized as a member of the international community by 2025.

ycm@yna.co.kr
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