Nuclear test jeopardises unified Korea hopes

SEOUL, Oct 10 (Reuters) North Korea's announcement it has carried out an underground nuclear test could scupper hopes for a joint Korean team at the 2014 Winter Games, according to the South's Olympic committee.

The two Koreas have long tried to field a unified team for the Olympics, and while talks to form one for the 2008 Beijing Summer Games were hindered by political problems it was hoped a joint team could compete in 2014.

''Due to North Korea's nuclear test, it has become pretty difficult (to field a joint team),'' said Kim Sang-woo, secretary general of the Korea Olympic Committee (KOC).

''We will have to watch carefully how the international community and International Olympic Committee react before we resume talks with the North on a unified team,'' South Korean news agency Yonhap reported him as saying.

North and South Korea were also planning to march together at the opening ceremony of the Asian Games in Doha at the end of the year, but that too looks unlikely after yesterday's announcement by Pyongyang escalated world concerns over its nuclear programme.

An official from the Korea Sports Council said they had been trying to get in touch with the North to discuss the details of the plan to march together in Doha but that has not be possible as all communication had been cut.

North and South Korea have marched together at past Olympics, including this year's Winter Games in Turin, but competed as separate teams.

The mountainous South Korean town of Pyeongchang is bidding to host the 2014 Winter Games and officials had been convinced earlier this month the two Koreas would field a unified team.

Head of Pyeongchang's bid committee Bahng Jae-heung said at the time the committee were ''taking it for granted'' there would be a joint team for 2014.

Still technically at war after their 1950-53 conflict ended without a peace treaty, the two Koreas first considered competing as a joint team at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, but years of acrimony and military tension have prevented the idea from reaching fruition.

REUTERS AY VC1007