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Today's Paper | November 06, 2024

Published 09 Feb, 2018 09:40pm

Historic handshake between Korean leaders highlights Pyeongchang Olympics opening ceremony

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 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

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

Participants perform 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

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

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