South and North Korea face-off...but also come together on the ice

역사적인 남북 아이스하키대결…빙판 녹인 감동의 '통일 염원'
The diplomatic relationship between South and North Korea continues to sour, but on Thursday night, those differences were put to one side, as an ice-hockey match between the two took place in the South's Gangwon-do province.
Kwon Jang-ho was there to witness the historic match and filed this report.
Two Koreas, one rink.
In a rare sporting contest between two sides technically still at war with each other, the South and North Korean women's ice hockey teams faced-off at the Gangneung Hockey Center on Thursday.
It's the first time in three years that any athlete from the North has stepped foot on this side of the inter-Korean border, and the contest has been hotly anticipated.
Another ballistic missile test carried out by Pyongyang earlier this week once again brought a dark cloud over the relationship, but that tension couldn't be found here.

"Several thousand spectators have come to watch this rare inter-Korean clash. Of course there are no supporters who have come from North Korea, but what's noticeable is that the crowds are not only cheering for the home team."

Many in the audience waved symbolic flags of a unified Korea -- as North Korean flags are banned in the South -- while singing and chanting songs of unification.

There are many of our supporters, so it felt right to support North Korea. By cheering them on, it will hopefully give them strength.

We are the same people so we should support both sides. We are one nation divided and I wanted my children to understand and experience that first hand.

It was a physical and nervy game, but South Korea came out comfortable three-nothing winners.
Although the disappointment was evident on the faces of the North Korean players, they were gracious in defeat, leaving a memorable impression on the audience and the South Korean players.

"We are the same people, so to have had this duel here in Korea like this, makes me feel proud and good."

"I was definitely a little more nervous for this game. I mean like you said, it is North Korea, so it's kind of more of a rivalry, so to say. So yea it definitely did feel...prepared a little different for this game but also trying to treat it like any other."

A coincidence in international sporting schedules means another North-South clash is set to take place.
The South Korean women's football team is currently in Pyongyang playing in the Asian Cup qualifiers, and will face the North Korean team on Friday.
It'll be the first inter-Korean football match in North Korea for 27 years.

Despite the ongoing geopolitical conflict between the two countries, sport continues to act as a meeting ground where the people from the two sides can connect.
Kwon Jang-ho, Arirang News, Gangneung.

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