Two Koreas to march together

Two Koreas to march together
REUTERS

Sydney, September 10: North and South Korean teams will march together for the first time at an Olympics when the Sydney Games open on Friday, Olympic sources said on Sunday.

The decision, expected to be announced later on Sunday by International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Juan Antonio Samaranch at the opening of an IOC session, followed negotiations between Olympic officials and the two Koreas.

Samaranch had told earlier in the day while visiting the athletes' village at the Games that he was optimistic about an agreement.

``We are negotiating. We have the last meeting maybe this afternoon,'' he said. ``I would like to have the answer for the opening ceremony.''

The two Korean states fought a bitter civil war half a century ago and have never signed a peace treaty.

Earlier, this year their leaders met for an historic summit and agreed to work for improved ties but tensions along the demilitarised zone (DMZ) -- the world's last cold war frontier -- remain high.

On Wednesday, Samaranch had been much less optimistic about an agreement, saying after failing to hear from North Korea that he thought the two teams would parade separately.

The IOC had been waiting for a reply from North Korea about a proposal that the two teams walk together behind the Olympic flag.

Last week top South Korean olympic official Kim Un-yong said there was still time to arrange for both teams to March together and arrange uniforms for the athletes.

Seoul's presidential office announced on Sunday that a North Korean political delegation would arrive in South Korea on Monday for a four-day visit.