2 Koreas to March Together at Winter Olympics

Published on 2018/01/21 | Source

Athletes from the two Koreas could march together behind a unification flag at the opening ceremony of the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics next month, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Do Jong-whan said Monday.

"Athletes from both Koreas marched together at international sports events about nine times so far", Do said. "Peace on the Korean Peninsula through sports is a value that the Olympics are pursuing".

But the issue needs to be discussed not only between Seoul and Pyongyang but also with the International Olympic Committee.

Meanwhile, officials from the two Koreas met in the truce village of Panmunjom and agreed that North Korea's 140-member Samjiyon Orchestra will perform in Seoul and Gangneung during the Olympics.

The venues are to be decided.

They will meet again on Wednesday to discuss other details of North Korea's participation in the Olympics.

The Unification Ministry admitted it has no idea what exactly the Samjiyon Orchestra is. A ministry official said it could be a new name for the Samjiyon Band, which belongs to the Mansudae Art Troupe "or was hastily launched ahead of the ongoing cross-border talks".