North and South Korea joined forces to get their ancient wrestling tradition onto a UN list of cultural treasures on Monday – a step forward in their rapprochement as their governments grapple with deeper divides. Ssirum in North Korea or Ssireum in South Korea has a history stretching back around 1,800 years and draws huge audiences with national and international contests broadcast on television. Two Koreas will work together to consolidate peace and prosperity on the Korean peninsula,” South Korea’s Lee Byong Hyun added. Tensions over North Korea’s tests of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles spiked on the Korean peninsular last year and there were fears of a US military response to North Korea’s threat to develop a weapon capable of hitting the United States. Talks in June between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un have allayed those concerns, and a detente between Pyongyang and Seoul has opened the door to closer ties.

Source: Egypt Independent November 26, 2018 14:15 UTC