Basketball helps 2 Koreas in their attempt to repair the fences

Peace Wave team arrives to play in a friendly basketball match at Ryugyong Jong Ju Yong Gymnasium in Pyongyang, North Korea on Wednesday, July 4, 2018.

(Korea Pool via AP)

North Korea and South Korea strengthened their relationship on Wednesday by participating in two days of friendly basketball games in Pyongyang.

The deeply divided neighbors – forming teams combining players from both nations – played on Wednesday. Thursday in the Ryugyong Jong Ju gymnasium in the North Korean capital

The two women's teams, which were separated into "Peace" in white jerseys and "Prosperity" in green jerseys, walked on the field holding hands.

102, Yonhap News Agency reported, noting that the game "was neck and neck." The men's match ended in a tie, 102-102

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According to South Korean media, it is the fourth time The Koreas have participated in friendly basketball matches – the last time in October 2003.

Kim Il Guk, North Korea's Sports Minister, has said in a speech that the games reflected the "veneration of the leaders of North and South to"

Inter-Korean relations have warmed since North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un announced efforts to reach diplomatic contact with South Korea in a New Year's speech

The opening ceremony of the 2018 Winter Olympic Games for the first time as part of a joint Olympic team and two summits between Kim and South Korean President Moon Jae- In have taken place since.

Korean relations come as US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo prepares to leave for his third trip to North Korea on Thursday. There, he will visit Pyongyang for two days in the midst of reports that the North has secretly developed a major nuclear missile plant

The Associated Press contributed to this report.