The most iconic photo from the Olympics is a picture of North and South Korean gymnasts posing together
Dylan Martinez/Reuters
North Korea and South Korea may not be on friendly terms, but competing gymnasts from the two countries showed a touching moment of solidarity at the Olympics.
Lee Eun-Ju, 17, from South Korea and Hong Un Jong, 27, from North Korea, posed for a photo together at a training session before the Olympic Games began in Rio de Janeiro on August 4.
The photo, which we first spotted on the BBC, shows the pair smiling for a selfie on Eun-Ju's phone.
While Hong competed in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, where she won a gold medal — North Korea's first Olympic medal — in the vault category, Eun-Ju is new to the Olympics, according to the BBC.
The photo is also being positively received on social media.
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/761641203960086529
Gymnasts from North & South Korea take a selfie together. This is why we do the Olympics. pic.twitter.com/Id44OuehN3
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/762994222299353089
#NorthKorea #SouthKorea #Olympics #gymnasts take home the gold for diplomacy https://t.co/dKpPdxPSWv
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/762871035850924032
Such a simple gesture; such a powerful image. #olympics #riohttps://t.co/r0nCOqqHlA
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/762788262435971072
Favorite #Olympics moments so far:
Lee Eun-ju from South Korea & Hong Un Jong from North Korea take a selfie together...(1/2)
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/762639379621777408
My, so far, favourite photo from the Olympics. Gymnasts Hong Un-jong of North Korea and Lee Eun-ju of South Korea. pic.twitter.com/1hxxSgiNPT
Though some Twitter users are baffled by the image, and didn't know that North Korea could compete in the Games.
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/762631344212107264
Soo does anybody in North Korea even know they're in the olympics?
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/762922470823297024
I was not aware that North Korea sends athletes to the Olympics omg
Other photos from the training session capture the athletes talking and smiling:
Dylan Martinez/Reuters
Dylan Martinez/Reuters
These images are not the first to demonstrate unity between different countries at this year's Olympics.
A powerful photo from the women's beach volleyball match on August 6 shows the Egyptian competitor Doaa Elgobashy in a hijab, trousers, and long sleeves playing opposite German athlete Kira Walkenhorst who wears a bikini.
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