North and South Korea to march under one flag at Winter Olympics ‘peace games’

The general view of XXX ahead of PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games on January 19, 2017 in Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea.

(World) : North Korea and South Korea will march under a united flag and field a joint team in women’s ice hockey at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics in South Korea from February 9 to 25, according to TIME. This is despite the two nations’ officially remaining at war and comes at a time when tensions have spiked following Kim Jong Un’s accelerating nuclear and missile tests and his escalating war of words with U.S. President Donald Trump. As reported, South Korean President Moon Jae-in hopes the show of unity can arrest what many fear is a relentless march toward nuclear catastrophe. So far, the sides are playing nice. North Korea is sending a 140-member orchestra, a cheering squad of young women, and 22 athletes to compete in ice hockey, figure skating, short-track speedskating, cross-country and Alpine skiing.

Arrangements for North Korean athletes to compete in Pyeongchang have been made at breakneck speed since the start of the year, when North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong-un, offered to send a delegation to the Games.

“Inter-Korean relations have been strained for almost 10 years,” the North’s chief delegate, Jon Jong-su, said during the two countries meeting at the border village of Panmunjom meeting in January. “We hope that ties can open,” he added.