Koreas March Together at Asian Games Opener
Jakarta. North Korea and South Korea marched hand-in-hand behind the "unification" flag at this year's Asian Games opening ceremony in Jakarta on Saturday (18/09).
Represented by 58 athletes, the two countries were greeted with an ovation, as they entered the main stage at the Gelora Bung Karno stadium.
South Korean basketball player Lim Yung-hui and North Korean footballer Ju Kyong-chol led the contingent carrying the Korean unification flag – a blue Korean Peninsula on a white background.
South Korean Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon and North Korean Deputy Prime Minister Ri Ryong-nam also held hands as the team paraded across the stage.
This is the second time this year that the Koreas marched together behind one flag, after the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics in South Korea.
The joint team will compete together in women's basketball, rowing and canoeing.
"Asian Games is an important event, which could help strengthen peace and relations between South Korea and North Korea," President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo said, as quoted in a statement issued by the Cabinet Secretariat
Prior to the opening ceremony, Jokowi met with Lee and Ri to express Indonesia's support for peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula.
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