THE countries technically remain in a state of war, but there were hearty handshakes on the podium between the South and North Koreans after the shooting competition.

    And when a North Korean basketball player went down on the court, a South Korean opponent reached down to help him up, giving him a pat on the back.

    The nations remain locked in a political standoff over the March sinking of a South Korean warship.

    It’s a far cry from 2002, when South Korea helped pay for North Korea to send cheerleaders to the Busan Asian Games, and 2006 in Doha when athletes from the two Koreas marched in the opening ceremony together as they had done at the Sydney and Athens Olympics.

    But on the ground, there are small signs of goodwill between athletes from the divided Korean peninsula.

    Jang Dae-kyu of South Korea, who won gold and silver in pistol shooting, says he makes sure to say hello and offer congratulations when the North Koreans do well in competition.

    “We’re friendly whenever we meet at international competitions,” he said.

    Teammate Hong Seong-hwan, who won two golds and two silvers in shooting, said he doesn’t think about politics when he meets North Korean competitors.

    “We’re all compete together,” he said. “And whether they’re Japanese, Chinese or North Korean, we’re friendly competitors.”

    (SD-Agencies)