CHAPTER 1 LET THE GAMES BEGIN President President Moon Jae-in watched the Opening Ceremony of the 2018 Winter Olympics from high in the crowd Thousands of people had packed into a stadium in Pyeongchang South Korea for the big event Dancers twirled and pounded drums Fireworks and drone displays flashed overhead But for Moon the highlight of the ceremony was the way it brought Koreans together Athletes from North Korea and South Korea march together in the 2018 Winter Olympics 5
The relationship between North Korea and South Korea had been strained for many years The two countries had even fought a war in the 1950s But in January 2018 just weeks before the Olympics representatives from both nations met They agreed that their athletes would march together in the Opening Ceremony Now as Moon watched they entered the stadium carrying a flag that represented a united Korea Behind Moon sat Kim Yo-jong She was the sister of North Korea’s dictator Kim Jong-un No member of the Kim family had visited South Korea before Moon hoped Kim Yo-jong’s presence was a sign of change He had greeted her with a handshake US vice president Mike Pence also attended the ceremony Pence and Kim did not shake hands or even look at each other But Moon remained 6
Kim Yo-jong top row second from left sits behind President Moon Jae-in during the Opening Ceremony hopeful The day before Moon had met with Pence and encouraged the United States to begin discussions with North Korea Bringing these two countries together would not be easy Their leaders had traded insults and threats during the past year Nevertheless Moon was determined He hoped the Games would plant the seeds of peace 7
