It8217;s a first 8212; Koreas march together

SYDNEY, SEPTEMBER 15: Athletes from North and South Korea struck a sporting blow for the cause of reunification on Friday, marching together for the first time at an Olympic opening ceremony. Wearing identical uniforms, about 180 athletes from the Cold War foes strode into Sydney8217;s Stadium Australia behind a white flag adorned with a light-blue Korean peninsula to the tune of folk song quot;Arirangquot;. A packed Stadium Australia crowd gave the Koreans a standing ovation.

The move, brought about as a result of negotiations between the two countries and the International Olympic Committee, marked the first time since they went to war in 1950 that the two countries had marched under a common flag at the Olympics. The Koreas are still technically at war, having never signed a peace accord. But ever since a June summit between the South8217;s President Kim Dae-Jung and the North8217;s Supreme leader Kim Jong-Il, the two Koreas have been progressing slowly towards peace and reunification.

Seoul said Kim Jong-Il was likely to visit the South Korean capital next year.