[Yonhap Photo]
SEOUL, Jan. 15 (Aju News) -- South and North Korean athletes and officials will march together under a flag representing a unified Korea for the opening ceremony of next month's Winter Olympics if the International Olympic Committee agrees, Seoul's sports minister said Monday.
Do Jong-hwan, minister of culture, sports and tourism, said in a parliamentary committee that the proposed joint march under the so-called Unification Flag has yet to be agreed at talks involving IOC officials and representatives from the two Koreas.
"Discussion is underway, but the flag will be used if we agree on a joint march at the opening ceremony," Do said.
The flag represents all of Korea when North and South Korea participate as one team in sporting events. Against the white background, there is a blue silhouette of the Korean peninsula in the center. The flag was first used in 1991 when the two countries competed as a single team in the 41st World Table Tennis Championships in Chiba, Japan.
The minister said the two Koreas may provide a unified team only in women's ice hockey under the supervision of a South Korean coach.
The two Koreas will hold working-level talks on Wednesday in the truce village of Panmunjom on the dispatch of a North Korean delegation to the Winter Olympics in the eastern ski resort of Pyeongchang on February 9-25.
The two Koreas held separate talks Monday in Panmunjom on a North Korean art troupe for performance in Pyeongchang, focusing on the size of performers, their travel route and schedules.
North Korean negotiators included Hyon Song-wol, who leads the Moranbong Band, a girl band formed by leader Kim Jong-un in 2012.
Public curiosity is growing in South Korea over the band, which has performed interpretive styles of pop, rock, and fusion since it made its global debut on July 6, 2012.
The band quickly became a cultural symbol of limited openness to Western influences to young people in the isolated communist country. The acceptability of fashion items such as mini-skirts and high heels displayed by members as well as their hairstyles have become popular among middle-class Pyongyang girls.
The band's first performance featured Western popular culture imagery and music, including Disney characters with members playing their own instruments or making public appearances in uniforms. However, the girls have been largely used to promote Kim's political philosophy and messages.
reporter
Lim Chang-won
cwlim34@ajunews.com
