(Asian Games) S. Korea defeats N. Korea in women's handball

All News 19:50 August 14, 2018

JAKARTA, Aug. 14 (Yonhap) -- South Korea defeated North Korea 39-22 in women's handball on Tuesday in the first inter-Korean showdown at the 18th Asian Games.

Jung Yu-ra led a balanced South Korean attack with a game-high 12 goals in the breezy Group A victory at GOR Popki Cibubur in Jakarta.

The opening ceremony for the Asian Games is Saturday in Jakarta, but preliminary matches in handball, football and basketball will be played beforehand to accommodate long schedules. The closing ceremony is Sept. 2.

Members of the South Korean and North Korean women's handball teams pose for photos together before the start of their preliminary match at the Asian Games at GOR Popki Cibubur in Jakarta on Aug. 14, 2018. (Yonhap)

South Korea will next face India on Thursday at the same venue.

South Korea is the defending champion in women's handball, and the country has won six of the seven gold medals since the event was added to the Asian Games in 1990. North Korea won silver behind South Korea in 1998 but hasn't reached the podium since.

South Korea led 12-5 early and closed the first half up 17-12. North Korea never really threatened the rest of the way, with Han Chun-yon leading its offense with five goals.

There are two groups of five nations at this year's Asian Games. The two Koreas are in Group A along with Kazakhstan, China and India. The Group B nations are Indonesia, Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand and Malaysia. The top two countries from each group after round robin play will advance to the semifinals.

The Koreas will field unified teams in women's 5-on-5 basketball, dragon boat racing in canoeing and three events in rowing. They will also march together behind the Korean Unification Flag at Saturday's opening ceremony.