It is verging on the astonishing that North and South Korea have been able to set aside the grave confrontation which had all the potential to create a global war and instead yesterday announce a plan to march under a single unified flag in next month's Winter Olympics.
They have also agreed on the intention to field a joint women's ice hockey team in the Games, which are scheduled to take place between February 9 and 25 February in Pyeongchang in South Korea.
It needs to be stressed that the proposals are subject to ratification by Olympic officials, and some expressions of concern have already emerged on the South Korean side.
However, the development provided an unmistakable message of hope and proved again that, in the right circumstances, sport can cross all boundaries.
