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In pics: Awkward diplomacy on show as Winter Olympics begin in South Korea

Figure skating star Kim Yuna lights cauldron; North and South Korean leaders shake hands

Mike Pence, Shinzo Abe, Moon Jae-in
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South Korean President Moon Jae-in, center, poses with U.S. Vice President Mike Pence and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, left, during a reception to mark the opening of the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics. | Photo: AP/PTI

Reuters
The Winter Olympics sparked to life in a vivid, colourful ceremony of fire and ice in South Korea on Friday, though the diplomacy was tougher to choreograph in the stadium where leaders from nations that are sworn enemies sat close together.

South Korea, which is using the Pyeongchang Games to break the ice with North Korea, seated its presidential couple alongside U.S. Vice President Mike Pence and his wife, with two of the North's most senior officials sitting in the row behind.

President Moon Jae-in, who wants to harness the Olympic spirit to pave the way for talks over the North's weapons

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