Inter-Korean team becomes first to strike gold

JAKARTA, Indonesia - There was no dividing them. The folk song Arirang played and the "unification" flag was raised to celebrate the first gold medal by an inter-Korean team at a major multisport event.

The crew comprising athletes from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the Republic of Korea won the women's 500-meter dragon boat final on Sunday at the Asian Games co-host city of Palembang, a day after the paddlers delivered the historic first medal for an inter-Korean team by taking bronze in the 200-meter dragon boat competition.

The gold was awarded to Korea, the name for the joint teams that are entered in rowing, canoeing and women's basketball, rather than being added to the tally of either the DPRK or ROK.