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Why did North and South Korean athletes march under one flag at the 2018 Winter Olympics?

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Moon Jae-In South Korea's 12th president, Moon Jae-In, 2017.

The North and South Korean athletes marched together under a unified flag at the 2018 Winter Olympics as a symbolic gesture of reconciliation and peace.1

During a period of heightened regional tension, the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games provided a unique window for diplomacy. South Korean President Moon Jae-In welcomed North Korean participation, which included a contingent of athletes, a cheering squad, and a performance-art troupe. In addition to marching under a unified banner depicting the Korean peninsula, the two nations fielded a joint women’s ice hockey team.21

This diplomatic opening was further highlighted when President Moon hosted Kim Yo-Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un, at the opening ceremonies. Her visit marked the first time a member of the North Korean ruling family had set foot in the South since the Korean War, and it paved the way for subsequent high-level talks between the two leaders.23