August 07, 2018•Update: August 08, 2018
By Pizaro Gozali
PALEMBANG, Indonesia
The 2018 Asian Games will see North and South Korea united as joint team for several sport competitions.
The Jakarta Palembang 2018 Asian Games are to take place between Aug. 18 and Sept. 2.
“In accordance with Asian Games slogan, 'Energy of Asia', we want to bring spirit to Asian peace, especially on the Korean Peninsula,” said Jakabaring Sports City President Director Bambang Supriyanto to Anadolu Agency during his visit to the Asian Games venue earlier this week, in Palembang.
He said the decision was taken in supporting the peace process between the two countries. Therefore, the two Koreas will participate in the Asian Games under the Korean unification flag.
"The unification flag features a blue silhouette of the Korean Peninsula," Supriyanto added. Supriyanto has also prepared various cross-cultural activities to gather athletes from 45 countries. North and South Korea will field joint teams in three disciplines: women’s basketball, dragon boat racing, and rowing.
Last week, the Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Puan Maharani paid an official visit to the president of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly of North Korea Kim Yong-nam in Pyongyang.
The minister delivered a letter of invitation from Indonesian President Joko Widodo to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to attend the opening ceremony of the Asian Games in Jakarta on Aug. 18.
