Korean teams march together at Olympics

ATHENS, Aug 13 (Reuters) -- Athletes from North and South Korea marched together into the Olympic Stadium on Friday in a symbolic gesture that many Koreans hope will lead to fielding a unified team at the 2008 Games.

Some 200 athletes and officials from the world's last Cold War flashpoint followed South Korean women's volleyball player Koo Min-jung and North Korean official Kim Sung-ho, who waved a special "unification flag" bearing a map of the peninsula.

The joint march repeated their emotional entry at Sydney. In 2000, the South, an industrialised democracy, and the North, a heavily militarised communist state, began a stop-and-go effort at burying deep political differences.

The two Koreas, technically in a state of war since their 1950-53 conflict ended without a peace treaty, are discussing fielding a joint team for the 2008 Games in Beijing.

On Friday, International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge met Lee Yeon-taek and Mun Jae-duck, leaders of the South and North Korean Olympic committees.

The three agreed to explore the idea of a united Korean team in 2008, South Korean officials said.

On Thursday, the table tennis teams of the two Koreas held a joint practice session and embraced for television cameras.

The two halves of the peninsula have been separated since 1945 and still lack telephone, Internet and postal links.

South Korea were 12th in the Sydney medals table, winning eight golds, 10 silvers and 10 bronzes. North Korea finished 60th, capturing one silver and three bronzes.

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