North Korea and South Korea advanced to the men’s soccer final at the Asian Games, setting up an anticipated showdown for gold between the bordering nations in Incheon, South Korea, on Thursday.
North and South Korea met in the Asian Games men’s soccer final once before, in 1978 in Bangkok. That match ended 0-0 with the nations sharing the gold medal, according to The Associated Press, which reported there must be a winner Thursday.
The incentive is even greater than gold, via the AP:
South Korea won men’s Olympic soccer bronze at London 2012, its first Olympic soccer medal. North Korea has never won a men’s Olympic soccer medal, making its lone appearance in 1976.
North Korea and South Korea’s tensions have long been apparent in the Olympic sports arena.
In September, South Koreans competed at an international sporting event in North Korea for the first time at a weightlifting meet. That came after South Korea rejected a North Korean offer to host some of the 2018 Olympic skiing events. The 2018 Olympics will be in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
Previously, North Korea boycotted the Seoul 1988 Olympics, but the nations marched together under one flag at the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Opening Ceremonies in Sydney and Athens. North Korea also competed in the 2002 Asian Games in Busan, South Korea.
