Selfie together creates a great Olympic moment
A Great Olympic Moment: North and South Korean Table Tennis Players Pose for a Joint Photo at the Podium, Capturing the World's Attention
A joint selfie of Olympic table tennis players from North and South Korea has been circulating the globe since Tuesday, celebrated as a rare symbol of unity between the two rival nations. After South Korea won bronze in the mixed doubles in Paris, behind North Korea and Olympic champions China, all three teams gathered on the podium for a group photo. South Korea's Lim Jonghoon snapped the shot - a picture for the ages.
The silver medal was North Korea's first Olympic medal since 2016. They did not participate in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. "This is the true spirit of the Olympics," said a South Korean commentator about the selfie. The last significant display of unity between the two nations was at the 2018 Winter Olympics, where they fielded a joint women's ice hockey team.
Last Friday's opening ceremony saw a delicate mix-up. The South Korean delegation was introduced as the "Democratic People's Republic of Korea," North Korea's official name, while traveling over the Seine. "We sincerely apologize for the mistake made in presenting the Korean athletes during the opening ceremony broadcast," read a post on the South Korean Olympic account of the International Olympic Committee on X.
Tensions between South Korea and its nuclear-armed neighbor are currently high. In January, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un labeled South Korea as the "main enemy," and in February, North Korea severed all economic ties with the South.
The Olympic Games 2024 in Paris is eagerly anticipated, with hope for further displays of unity between North and South Korea. Despite the ongoing tensions, the successful collaboration between the two nations during the mixed doubles table tennis event has reignited discussions about potential diplomatic progress.
