Koreans celebrate despite Olympic defeat

The Korean women’s hockey team, the first in Olympic history to combine players from North and South, lost 8-0 to Switzerland last night in its debut game in front of a raucous, sellout crowd on a historic night mixing sports and politics on an international stage.

Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jongun, watched with South Korean president Moon Jae-in. They were joined by North Korea’s nominal head of state, Kim Yong Nam.

The two North Koreans are on a landmark visit to the South amid a flurry of abrupt reconciliation steps and invited Moon to visit Pyongyang in what would be the third inter-Korean summit talks since their 1945 division.

The Koreas often use sports to find a breakthrough in their strained relations. The ongoing rapprochement mood flared after Kim Jong-un said he was willing to send an Olympic delegation. Moon, who wants to resolve the nuclear standoff diplomatically and peacefully, quickly responded to Kim’s outreach by offering talks.

Many experts say Kim’s overture is intended to use improved ties with Seoul as a way to weaken US-led international sanctions. These toughened after a series of big weapons tests last year that included its sixth and largest nuclear test explosion and three missile launches.

Warming ties between the Koreas could complicate Seoul’s ties with Washington, which wants to maximize its pressures on Pyongyang.