An Assessment Of Sports Diplomacy As A Tool In Deepening Bilateral Relations Between North And South Korea

ABSTRACT

Revolutionary changes in the diplomatic environment has led to the incorporation of sports and diplomacy - two distinct institutions – in theory and practice. The attachment of democracy to diplomacy has led to the call for more transparency in international relations by the global public. Stuart Murray believes the emergence of non-state diplomatic actors such as Multinational Corporations (MNCs), non-governmental and inter-governmental organizations and celebrities have become extremely influential in the diplomatic environment to the point of causing change in policies. These developments have forced governments to use sports as an indirect means to foreign policy ends. Sports diplomacy has been utilized by governments to conduct public diplomacy in the hopes of ending hostilities between two estranged states. The cricket diplomacy is a case in point. Recently, the 2018 Winter Olympics held in Pyeongchang, South Korea has depicted the effectiveness of sports diplomacy in upholding truce and peace between the two Koreas. This study sought to investigate how peaceful co-existence between North and South Korea, spurred on by sports diplomacy, would impact on their co-existence and promote good neighbourliness. The objectives of the study are to establish and analyse the various means by which the Olympic Games has been used as a platform for sports diplomacy, examine the historical link between North and South Korea and assess the ramifications on the bilateral relations between North and South Korea after the 2018 Winter Olympics. Using secondary sources and interviews based on the qualitative approach, the study finds that North and South Korea have made several rapprochement attempts after the Korean War which were unsuccessful until the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics. There have been unprecedented developments such as three interKorean summits within a space of six months, the destruction of guard posts located along the front lines of the DMZ and the bid for both Koreas to co-host the 2032 Summer Olympic Games. It was asserted from the interviews that further inter-Korean summit to ensure peace between the two Koreas would be held. However, it was not certain that Kim Jong-un would stop the development of his nuclear weapons. Proceeding inter-Korean relations would greatly benefit the North to curb starvation, develop its infrastructure and generate revenue for the regime and promote the fusion of similar yet distinct cultures between the two. Recommendations made include engaging North Korea in economic diplomacy due to Kim’s interest in economic security, employing double suspension to push Kim Jong-un to quit developing nuclear weapons in exchange for large scale halting of US military activities on the Korean peninsula and consistently engaging the North in sporting activities due to Kim’s particular interest in sports.