By Lee Hana, Xu Aiying and Kim Young Deok
Photos = Jeon Han
April 6, 2017 | Gangneung-si

The "Olympics of Peace" have showcased their opening act in Gangneung, Gangwon-do Province, one of the host cities for next year's PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

On April 6, women’s ice hockey teams from South and North Korea faced off in a match at the 2017 IIHF Ice Hockey Women's World Championships, Division II, Group A, at the Gangneung Hockey Center.

True to the Olympic slogan "Peace. Connected," the two teams showed true sportsmanship on the ice, giving fans a preview of what they can look forward to at the PyeongChang Olympics next year, a little over 300 days away.

Throughout the match, which coincided with the United Nations' International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, the stadium rang with loud cheers from a band of inter-Korean supporters, chanting, "We are one," while banging thunder sticks.




South Korea defeated North Korea 3-0 in a faceoff that came some 12 months after the last inter-Korea match, which took place in Slovenia in April 2016.

Defense Park Ye Eun scored the first goal of the match 8 minutes and 13 seconds into the first period. The second goal was scored in the same period by assistant captain Jo Su Sie at 11 minutes and 27 seconds. Forward Lee Eunji scored the third and final goal during the second period, at 17 minutes and 57 seconds.

The South Korean national anthem rang across the stadium for the fourth time this week.

"We received a lot of media attention before this match, and I'm happy that our team performed at our best," said South Korea's Park Ye Eun. "The North Korean team showed great sportsmanship on the rink today," she added.

Team Korea's captain Lee Kyou Sun said, "There were North Korean players on the ice today from last year's tournament, and I was pleased to see them again on the rink tonight. These kinds of interactions are very meaningful for both countries."

The spectators showed a vested interest in the historic meet-up between the two countries. Tom Norris, a student from the U.S., said, "I came to the match tonight because of my interest in the re-unification of the two Koreas. Watching the crowds support the North Korean players, I was able to feel the intense amity that filled the entire stadium. I'm sure that the North Korean players felt the same way, and I think these moments can add up to change the way we view the inter-Korean relationship."






hlee10@korea.kr