Combined Korean hockey team loses to Swiss in Olympic debut

The moment was too important to be overshadowed by a loss. No matter the final score.

The Korean women's hockey team, the first in Olympic history to combine players from North and South, was routed 8-0 by Switzerland on Saturday night in its debut game, outshot 52-8 in a matchup that could have been far worse if not for the goaltending of Shin So Jung.

Players from the combined Koreas line up before the preliminary round of the women's hockey game against Switzerland at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea, Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

The poor showing didn't stop the sellout crowd from cheering throughout much of the game, the chants led often by North Korea's famous cheering group, and it didn't lessen the import of the event.

"I think a unified one is stronger than two divided ones ... If North and South Korea will send unified teams on sports and all other sectors, we'll have good results," North Korean player Jong Su Hyon said after the game.

Fans unfurled a large banner reading "We are one" after the game and then IOC President Thomas Bach and South Korean President Moon Jae-in joined the powerful sister of North Korea leader Kim Jong Un, Kim Yo Jong, and Kim Yong Nam, North Korea's nominal head of state, for photos with the team.

The dignitaries walked to the Korean bench, taking turns talking to players still standing on the ice. After a photo together, each of the Koreans shook hands with the three men while Kim Jong Un's sister watched.

North Korean supporters cheer before the preliminary round of the women's hockey game between Switzerland and the combined Koreas at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea, Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

North Korean supporter arrive before the preliminary round of the women's hockey game between Switzerland and the combined Koreas at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea, Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

It was a raucous and historic night mixing sports and politics on an international stage for a second straight night in this remote region of South Korea. The game came just 24 hours after an extraordinary opening ceremony filled with signs of unity between the two rivals. And like the ceremony, North and South leaders spent long moments in close proximity.

The two North Koreans are on a landmark visit to the South amid a flurry of abrupt reconciliation steps, and both attended the opening ceremony before having a luncheon with Moon at Moon's presidential palace earlier Saturday. The North Koreans have invited Moon to visit Pyongyang in what would be the third inter-Korean summit talks since their 1945 division.

Fans roared every time a Korean got the puck on her stick, and Han Soojin nearly put the team on the board with a shot from the left circle that hit the crossbar early in the first period. North Korean Jong Su Hyon had one of Korea's three shots in the opening period.

Still, the Koreans were playing the world's sixth-ranked team. Alina Muller had a hat trick for Switzerland by the end of the first period and added a fourth early in the second. Coach Sarah Murray played three North Korean forwards as required in the deal that created the team; she had to scratch three of her South Korean players.

"Obviously, it is tough to lose. Nobody likes losing, especially me ... I think they were nervous," Murray said. "Coming on first such a big crowd and the first game on Olympic stage. I think in the first period we were nervous and it was hard to come back from that."

North Korean supporters cheer before the preliminary round of the women's hockey game between Switzerland and the combined Koreas at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea, Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

North Korean supporter arrive before the preliminary round of the women's hockey game between Switzerland and the combined Koreas at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea, Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

A North Korean supporter talks as a group arrive before the preliminary round of the women's hockey game between Switzerland and the combined Koreas at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea, Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

South Korean player Ko Hyein said: "We had a tight game at first in the first period, but our mental toughness wasn't really good so we lost our posture after suffering the first goal. But we'll make up for that weak point for the next game."

Hundreds of spectators lined the streets outside Kwandong Hockey Center before the game, chanting and waving small "unification flags" amid gusting, chilly winds. One man held up a sign that read, "The peace of all mankind."

"We have to be unified (with North Korea). Politicians must let the Korean people meet and get together continuously," said Park Sung-uk, a 48-year-old office worker who attended the game with his family. "I just want the unified team to do well in these Olympics."

Fielding the joint hockey team was one of the key agreements reached after several rounds of talks on how to cooperate during the Olympics, which run through Feb. 25. Athletes from North and South paraded together during Friday night's ceremony in the same white parkas, marching under a single "unification flag" depicting an undivided peninsula. It was their first joint march since 2007.

The Korean team, guaranteed a berth in the Games as the host nation, is not expected to win a medal. But its debut against Switzerland, which won bronze in the 2014 Olympics, had historic significance and symbolized fledgling unity between the rivals split along the world's most heavily fortified border.

The North initially had no athletes coming to the Olympics, but the International Olympic Committee allowed 22 as special entries. Twelve female hockey players joined the 23-person South Korean team.

South Korea's Eom Suyeon, of the combined Koreas team, chases the puck against Tess Allemann (18) and Isabel Waidacher (24), of Switzerland, during the first period of the preliminary round of the women's hockey game at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea, Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Phoebe Staenz, of Switzerland, and South Korea's Choi Jiyeon, of the combined Koreas team, chase the puck during the first period of the preliminary round of the women's hockey game at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea, Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

The players have been the subject of intense scrutiny and the team was thrown together only two weeks ago, with limited time to practice. Two players, one South Korean and the other North Korean, appeared on the opening ceremony and climbed stairs together with the Olympic torch that they handed to Olympic champion figure skater Yuna Kim.

There was early criticism in South Korea that the new players would throw off team chemistry and cost South players time on the ice after working together for months to shine on the sport's biggest stage. The team's Canadian coach initially expressed frustration over a team assembled so close to the Olympics, but she has recently said she is happy with her new players on a team she says now feels like family.

The Koreas often use sports to find a breakthrough in their strained relations. The ongoing rapprochement mood flared after Kim Jong Un said in his New Year's Day address that he was willing to send an Olympic delegation. Moon, a dove 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 U.S.-led international sanctions toughened after its series of big weapons tests last year that include its sixth and largest nuclear test explosion and three intercontinental ballistic missile launches. Warming ties between the Koreas could complicate Seoul's ties with Washington, which wants to maximize its pressures on Pyongyang.

North Korean supporters cheer before the preliminary round of the women's hockey game between Switzerland and the combined Koreas at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea, Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

TOKYO (AP) — The United States ambassador to the United Nations said Thursday that America will stand with Japan until all the Japanese abducted by North Korea decades ago return home to end their painful separation.

Linda Thomas-Greenfield made the comments on Thursday as she began her visit to Tokyo by meeting with the families of those kidnapped.

Japan says North Korea abducted at least 17 Japanese citizens, possibly many more, to train them as agents during the 1970s and 1980s. After admitting in 2002 it had abducted 13 Japanese, North Korea apologized and allowed five to return home for a visit. They have since stayed in Japan. Pyongyang said eight others had died and denied that the other four entered its territory and never provided a reinvestigation it has promised.

The twelve who are still missing include teenage students and others living along Japan’s coasts. Many were bundled into small boats and taken across the sea to North Korea.

“The United Stats stands with all the families, with all of Japan and with the international community in pressing for a resolution that will allow all families separated by the regime’s policies to be reunited,” Thomas-Greenfield said at the outset of her meeting with five relatives of the abductees and a representative from their support group at the Prime Minister’s Office.

“I’m all too familiar with the pain and the loss and the suffering that you family members here are experiencing,” she said. “I know how painful it is for you, and then how long you have had to endure this pain.”

Thomas-Greenfield said she has worked on North Korea-related issues throughout her career.

U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration is committed to raising the abduction issue “at every opportunity and calling for the return of abducted Japanese citizens to their family,” the ambassador said, adding that America sticks to that policy regardless of the leadership.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has repeatedly stated his determination to hold a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to achieve the return of the abductees.

Experts say Kim wants improved ties with Japan to drive a wedge between the United States and its allies, while Kishida, stung by a major corruption scandal in his governing party, wants to use possible progress in the abduction issue to turn around his dwindling support ratings at home. They say a summit, however, would be difficult because Japan cannot accept the preconditions set by Pyongyang in order to resolve the abduction issues.

Sakie Yokota, 88, whose then-13-year-old daughter, Megumi, was abducted in 1977 from Japan’s northern coast on her way home from school, told Thomas-Greenfield that she, her husband and Megumi’s brothers searched for her for 20 years until they found out she was abducted. They are still waiting to reunite with her, she said.

“All I want is to see her, while I’m still well,” Yokota said, beseeching the ambassador for continued support toward resolving the problem.

Thomas-Greenfield arrived in Tokyo after her earlier visit to Seoul, where she and South Korean officials discussed a new mechanism for monitoring North Korea’s nuclear weapons program. Russia and China have thwarted U.S.-led efforts to step up U.N. sanctions on North Korea over its ballistic missile testing since 2022, underscoring a deepening divide between permanent Security Council members over Russia’s war on Ukraine.

The United States, South Korea and Japan have been deepening security ties amid growing tensions in the region from North Korea and China. The three countries have expanded their combined military exercises and their deterrence strategies built around U.S. strategic assets.

Associated Press writer Kim Tong-hyung in Seoul, South Korea, contributed to this report.

U.S. Ambassador to United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield, top left, meets with Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, far right, and the families of abduction victims by North Korea Thursday, April 18, 2024, at prime minister's office in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, Pool)

U.S. Ambassador to United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield, center, meets with the families of abduction victims by North Korea Thursday, April 18, 2024, at prime minister's office in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, Pool)

U.S. Ambassador to United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield, center top, meets with Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi and the families of abduction victims by North Korea Thursday, April 18, 2024, at prime minister's office in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, Pool)

Sakie Yokota, mother of Megumi Yokota, one of the Japanese abductees by North Korea, speaks to U.S. Ambassador to United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield on Thursday, April 18, 2024, at prime minister's office in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, Pool)

U.S. Ambassador to United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield speaks with Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi and the families of abduction victims by North Korea on Thursday, April 18, 2024, at prime minister's office in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, Pool)

Takuya Yokota, Secretary-General of the Association of Families of Victims Kidnapped by North Korea, center, speaks to U.S. Ambassador to United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield, not in picture on Thursday, April 18, 2024, at prime minister's office in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, Pool)

U.S. Ambassador to United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield, third from left, poses for a photo with Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, left, and the families of abduction victims by North Korea on Thursday, April 18, 2024, at prime minister's office in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, Pool)

U.S. Ambassador to United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield, fourth left, meets with Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, center top, and the families of abduction victims by North Korea Thursday, April 18, 2024, at prime minister's office in Tokyo in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, Pool)

Sakie Yokota, mother of Megumi Yokota, one of the Japanese abductees by North Korea, speaks to U.S. Ambassador to United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield, not in picture, on Thursday, April 18, 2024, at prime minister's office in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, Pool)

U.S. Ambassador to United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield meets with the families of abduction victims by North Korea Thursday, April 18, 2024, at prime minister's office in Tokyo in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, Pool)