DPRK and S. Korea to March Together at Asiad

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, August 29, 2002

DPRK and S. Korea to March Together at Asiad

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In a remarkable step to the inter-Korean sports exchanges, DPRK and South Korea have agreed to march together at the opening and closing ceremonies of the upcoming Busan Asian Games, in the same uniform and under the same "One Korea Flag," officials said on Wednesday.

The agreement came at a three-day working level talks between sports officials from the South and the North at the North's Mt. Geumgang. Earlier, the North decided to send its delegation to the Busan Asian Games, which will kick off on Sept. 29 in the southern port city.

If it becomes a reality, it would be the first time for the two Koreas to enter the stadium together at international sports events since the Sydney Olympics in 2002.

Officials said the South and the North didn't decide on the size of the delegation for the ceremonies, but the same number of athletes from each will enter the stadium.

The two sides signed a 14-point agreement, including the joint entrance and the use of the DPRK flags during matches.

Controversies emerged in South Korea over the possible use of DPRK flag as the public display of the flags are strictly prohibited by law in the South. But the two sides agreed to follow the charter of the Olympic Council of Asia and "international courtesy" to allow the DPRK delegation to use their flags.

According to the agreements, a flame will be obtained at the North's Mt. Baekdu on Sept. 5 and handed over next day to South Korean organizers at the truce village of Panmunjeom, to be united with another fire to be lit atop the South's Mt. Halla, officials said.

The Busan Asian Games Organizing Committee (BAGOC) said it would set up 10 hotlines linking the athletes' village and DPRK for the convenience of DPRK delegation.

Earlier, the North said they would send a 665-member delegation, including 168 athletes, to the Asian Games. A group of DPRK supporters will use a DPRK liner to get to Busan directly, while it has yet to decide how to transport the athletes and officials to the host city.

The South proposed that the athletes and officials use either the Pyongyang-Incheon or Pyongyang-Kimpo air routes before taking buses to get Busan, but the North wanted to fly directly to Gimhae adjacent to Busan, officials said.

Source: agencies

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