The two Koreas have decided to change things up tonight for the opening ceremony of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Paralympics.
Unlike when they came into the stadium together during last month's Olympics,... the delegations from the South and North will march in separately, under their own national flags.
Lee Seung-jae reports.
South and North Korea have decided not hold a joint march at the opening ceremony of the PyeongChang Winter Paralympics on Friday evening,... despite initially agreeing to do so.
According to the Korean Paralympic Committee,... officials from the two Koreas met on Thursday to discuss the details of the joint parade,... but couldn't agree on whether they should march behind a Korean Unification Flag showing Dokdo -- Korea's easternmost island that Japan wrongfully claims as its own territory.
The North wanted the flag to show Dokdo,... emphasizing that not showing it would hurt the pride of the Korean people,... but the South wanted to hold a Korean Unification Flag that doesn't show Dokdo to respect the International Paralympic Committee's recommendation not to politicize sports events.
The IPC was also reluctant to use a flag showing Dokdo,... and said it wanted the two Koreas to use the same Unification Flag that was carried during the opening ceremony of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics a month ago,...when the two Koreas marched under a Dokdo-free Korean Unification Flag.
The IPC added that it did not want any further debate on the issue,... and recommended the two Koreas march in separately.
Despite the decision,... the Korean Paralympic Committee has proposed that representatives of the South and North carry the Paralympic torch together for the relay,... as North Korea is making its Winter Paralympic Games debut.
With the Paralympic Games taking place for ten days starting Friday until March 18th,... the two Koreas hope the joy of sport will keep them on the path to peace.
Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.
