The raising of the Flag, as well as the subsequent singing of the North Korean National Anthem Aegukga, is particularly poignant because both are normally banned in South Korean, a country still officially at war with its northern neighbour ever since an armistice, rather than a peace treaty, was signed to end the Korean War in 1953.

Incheon played a leading role in that conflict because in 1950 it was the location for a successful amphibious invasion by 75,000 pro-southern United Nations troops.

North Korea subsequently boycotted the 1986 Asian Games and the 1988 Summer Olympics, both in Seoul, but took part in the 2002 Asian Games in Busan, and it is hoped that by competing again here, sport can go so way to helping develop more cordial relations between the two nations. 
 
The choice of DJ Psy's hit Gangnam Style, which has had two billion views of YouTube and will feature at the Opening Ceremony tomorrow, was an interesting choice for such a symbolic moment.

Performed by breakdancers, the song was greeted with blank looks by most of the North Korean team, in comparison with those from the four teams welcomed at the same time - Singapore, China, Thailand and Yeman - who smiled and took pictures as the song was played.  
North Korea are welcomed to Incheon 2014 to the sound of Gangnam Style
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