Joint Korea ice-hockey team plays their first game

The joint Korean women's ice-hockey team had their first game on Sunday (February 4), a friendly match against Sweden ahead of the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics.

The joint team's roster of 22 players, including four North Koreans, were dressed in the same uniform featuring one Korea for the test match held at an ice link in Incheon, west of Seoul. They lost against a Swedish team by 1:3.

The North's 12 players were added to the existing South Korean women's squad of 23 and at least three North Korean players were expected to be selected for each match.

South Korean player scored one goal in the first period of the game where four out of the 22 game roster were North Korean players.

Only late last month, 12 North Korean players have joined the South's 23-player squad. The Koreas have had joint teams at world championships for table tennis and youth football, but never at any multi sports events. (Reuters)