NBC fires Olympic analyst over insensitive Korea-Japan comments

NBC has fired Olympic analyst Joshua Cooper Ramo over comments made during the opening ceremonies that angered thousands of Koreans.

Ramo, who was brought in specifically to give insight into the Asian nations for PyeongChang 2018, implied Koreans are thankful for Japan ruling the peninsula with imperial power from 1910 to 1945, a sensitive period for the countries.

"Every Korean will tell you that Japan is a cultural, technological, and economic example that has been so important to their own transformation," said Ramo during the broadcast, according to David K. Li of the New York Post.

NBC issued an apology for the remarks and said it was "grateful" that Olympic officials in South Korea accepted the admission, though it later ruled Ramo would not be staying on with the network.

"It was possible for him to do more with us here - now it is no longer possible," an NBC official told Jung Min-ho of The Korea Times.

Ramo has yet to apologize for the remarks.