Kim Jong Un’s sister shakes hands with South Korean president Moon Jae In at opening ceremony

IT was over in a matter of seconds, but the impact of the historic moment at the Olympic opening ceremony is being called “unprecedented”.

THE sister of rogue North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has made history after publicly shaking hands with the South Korean president at the 2018 Winter Olympics opening ceremony.

The handshake between Kim Yo Jong and South Korean president Moon Jae In was so monumental because it was the first time a member of the Kim Dynasty has set foot on South Korean land since the end of the Korean War in 1953.

It is also the first time a member of the Kim bloodline has met with a South Korean leader on their soil, with previous meetings taking place in North Korean capital Pyongyang.

The move is widely considered to be an unprecedented display of unity and peace between the two nations.

Kim Jong Un's sister Kim Yo Jong has made history. Picture: Patrick Semansky/AFP/Pool

The dictator’s sister was seated behind US Vice President Mike Pence during the ceremony, which saw athletes from both North and South Korea marching into the PyeongChang stadium together in a powerful and tear-jerking moment during the Winter Olympics opening ceremony.

Wearing white, the athletes from the divided country who live amid constant nuclear threats, walked in to huge cheers from the crowd, with “Korea” written on the back of their jackets.

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The sight led to “sobbing” from some in the audience and was watched by Kim Jong Un’s sister and South Korean President Moon Jae In, as well as US Vice President Mike Pence.

It was hailed as an incredible moment of unity by Olympic officials, with one saying the world is “touched by this wonderful gesture.”

“We all join and support you in your message of peace. United in our diversity we are stronger than all the forces that want to divide us.”

North Korean and South Korean athletes arrive together for the first time in 11 years. Picture: Franck Fife/Pool Photo via AP.

North Korea's Hwang Chung Gum and South Korea's Won Yun-jong hold the flag. Picture: AP Photo/Petr David Josek.

The moment led to “sobbing” in the crowd. Picture: AP Frank Fife/Getty Images.

It’s the first time in 11 years North and South Korea have marched together.

During the 2000s, the two countries’ athletes marched together at the opening and closing ceremonies of several international sporting events, including the 2000 Sydney Olympics. The last time before Friday was at the Asian Winter Games in China in 2007.

The two countries have also formed a joint women’s hockey team, which consists of 23 South Koreans and 12 North Koreans.

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North Korea has sent hundreds of people to PyeongChang, including officials, athletes, artists, journalists and a 230-member cheering group.

Russia’s entrance to the stadium was also notable as the athletes marched as “Olympic Athletes from Russia,” under a significant cloud related to past doping concerns.

There are 168 Russians who are being forced to compete in neutral uniforms under the Olympic flag as punishment for Russian doping in Sochi in 2014. Other athletes haven’t been invited to compete at all. Appeals by 45 of them were rejected Friday.

Kim Yo-jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (in black) watches with South Korean president Moon Jae-in (front row centre) and his wife, Kim Jung-sook. Picture: Carl Court/Getty Images.

Originally published as Kim Jong Un’s sister shakes hands with South Korean president Moon Jae In at opening ceremony