Koreas Mark Big Moment in Olympic Unity With Japan Matchup
- Many Koreans harbor resentment toward Japan over 1910-45 rule
- Unified Korea team score first Olympic goal before losing
Japan's Shoko Ono and Unified Korea's Kim Heewon collide in the women's preliminary round ice hockey match on Feb. 14.
Photographer: Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty ImagesThe divided Koreas reached their biggest moment of unity at the Winter Olympics by facing a common historical adversary: Japan.
Even though a unified Korean team of ice hockey players lost 4-1 to Japan Wednesday, the symbolism of a divided nation taking on its former colonial ruler in an Olympic match was palpable. Days earlier South Korean President Moon Jae-in had snubbed Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for advocating military drills against North Korea.