Largely abandoned by its former allies in Moscow and Beijing, North Korea lost two-thirds of its economic output. It also suffered from a severe famine caused by massive flooding in 1995 and 1996, and its long history of agricultural mismanagement. According to South Korea's National Statistical Office, during the famine as many as one million people died in a country with a population of 22 million. Severe shortages in food, fuel and other necessities continue today. The desire for reunification has increased in both nations in recent years.
Most Korean experts see the Olympic decision as one more step on the road to reunification.
It builds upon the recent exchange of family members of North and South Korea, permitting them to visit each other for the first time, after 50 years. Brandon points out that there have been discussions about having the two nations field a unified team in the 2002 World Cup, which will be held in Korea and Japan. Brandon says there has even been some discussion of holding World Cup games in Pyongyang, North Korea as well. In an editorial, the Korea Herald , the largest English-language newspaper in South Korea, praised the decision. The decision did face some opposition in South Korea.