The Pyeongchang Winter Olympics kicked off with a glittering ceremony on Friday — AFP

Historic handshake between Korean leaders highlights Pyeongchang Olympics opening ceremony

Kim Jong Un's sister and South Korean President Moon Jae-in's show of Korean solidarity wins hearts.
AFP Published February 9, 2018

The two Koreas marched together and South Korea's president shared a historic handshake with Kim Jong Un's sister as the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics opened in a spirit of intense rapprochement on Friday.

At a glittering but sub-zero ceremony, South and North Korea brought the crowd to its feet as they entered behind the blue-and-white Korean unification flag.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in shook the hand of a smiling Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, as he entered the VIP seating section, and again as the Korean athletes marched.

It cemented what has been a rapid improvement in Korean ties since North Korea — after months of fierce nuclear rhetoric and missile tests — agreed last month to attend its first Olympics in the South.

Kim Yo Jong shakes hands with South Korean President Moon Jae-in — AFP
Kim Yo Jong shakes hands with South Korean President Moon Jae-in — AFP

Kim Yo Jong waves behind South Korean President Moon Jae-in during the opening ceremony — AFP
Kim Yo Jong waves behind South Korean President Moon Jae-in during the opening ceremony — AFP

Artists perform during the opening ceremony of the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics — AFP
Artists perform during the opening ceremony of the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics — AFP

Artists perform during the opening ceremony of the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics — AFP
Artists perform during the opening ceremony of the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics — AFP

Taiwan‘s flagbearer Lien Te-An leads the delegation parade during the opening ceremony — AFP
Taiwan‘s flagbearer Lien Te-An leads the delegation parade during the opening ceremony — AFP

Participants perform during the opening ceremony — AFP
Participants perform during the opening ceremony — AFP

Canada‘s delegation parades during the opening ceremony — AFP
Canada‘s delegation parades during the opening ceremony — AFP

A drone carrying the Olympic flame makes its way through Gwanghwamun square in central Seoul — AFP
A drone carrying the Olympic flame makes its way through Gwanghwamun square in central Seoul — AFP

Fireworks go off outside the stadium during the opening ceremony — AFP
Fireworks go off outside the stadium during the opening ceremony — AFP

Comments (9) Closed
SHAHID SATTAR
Feb 09, 2018 10:42pm
That is the way to go. Don't let anything come in between you both and think what your united nation could achieve if you started thinking about your people's welfare together.
Recommend 0
Viraf Mehta
Feb 10, 2018 01:02am
As expected, beautiful photo coverage by Dawn. Your photographers are absolutely awesome. With the exception of National Geographic, rarely does one see such good pictures in media. Keep it up.
Recommend 0
Chacha
Feb 10, 2018 01:37am
United you stand,devided you fall
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Anwar Mahmood
Feb 10, 2018 04:16am
Peace loving Pakistan admires peace hand shakes. Let peace win and prevail everywhere in the world with kisses on peace shaking hands.
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Sympathetic
Feb 10, 2018 07:16am
Love wins. Always
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bholaabolaa
Feb 10, 2018 08:07am
While watching Winter Olympics Opening ceremony on NBC television, just saws Pakistan marching in. The NBC completely ignored Pakistan and mentions Pakistan, once it is off the screen. This is a departure from the past. What did Pakistan do to be totally sidelined by USA television network?
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Karido
Feb 10, 2018 09:33am
A strong and clear message to the US: Take your war mongering and arms sales thugs somewhere else. Felicitations to the Koreans and thanks for a truly wonderful opening ceremony.
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Talat
Feb 10, 2018 12:03pm
wonderful to see !!!!
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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad
Feb 11, 2018 10:13pm
Great gesture by the Koreans to start a new era of fraternity and friendship between their two countries. A slap on the face of outside war mongers, who have been trying their best to instill fear and hatred between North and South Korea in order to sell them billions of dollars worth of un-necessary arms and ammunitions.
Recommend 0

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