Tearful farewell scene of Korean and North Korean athletes

The joint Korean hockey team competes at the Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea (Photo: AP)

The historic inter-Korean hockey team, the first joint team between North and South Korea at any Olympics, began training together on January 25, five days after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) approved the formation of a joint team between the two neighbors. The 23-player South Korean hockey team has been joined by 12 North Korean players and is led by South Korean coach Sarah Murray.

North Korean athletes (in red) and South Korean athletes hug each other at the Gangneung Olympic Village before the North Korean delegation departs for home (Photo: Yonhap)

After spending time living and training together, the athletes from the two countries quickly became friends. Before the North Korean delegation left South Korea, the girls from both teams burst into tears as they had to say goodbye at the Gangneung Olympic Village in Gangwon Province. The 12 girls from the North Korean hockey team hugged their South Korean friends before getting on the bus to return home. Last night, February 25, they marched together under the unified flag at the closing ceremony of the Winter Olympics.

North Korean girls shook hands with their South Korean friends before boarding the bus to return home (Photo: Yonhap)

According toYonhapAs the North Korean athletes boarded the bus to return home, the South Korean athletes opened the bus doors and shook hands with them one last time. Coach Murray and his staff also came to see the North Korean athletes off, describing it as a very “sad” moment.

“That shows what we did was really special. We could feel that about the athletes even though we only had three weeks together,” coach Murray shared.

South Korean athlete Choi Ji-yeon is particularly close to the North Korean athletes. Choi said she prepared handwritten letters for each of the 12 North Korean athletes the night before they parted ways. Choi also printed out photos she took with the North Korean athletes on her phone as souvenirs for her friends across the border.

South Korean athletes reach through car windows to shake hands with North Korean athletes (Photo: Yonhap)

“I told them I would miss them so much because we had been so close over the past few weeks. I hope to see them again, but I know it will be difficult,” Choi said, wiping away tears.

North Korea will have 22 athletes participating in this year's Winter Olympics. Leader Kim Jong-un's agreement to send a delegation to compete in South Korea is seen as a sign of reconciliation between the two neighboring countries after years of tension.

Tears of North Korean athletes when leaving South Korea (Photo: Yonhap)