▲ North Korea’s IOC delegate Jang Ung (L) and gold medalist in the men’s vault, Yang Hak Seon (© KBS TV)

South Korea’s Yang Hak Seon received his gold medal in yesterday’s London Olympic men’s vault from the North Korean delegate to the International Olympic Committee, 74-year old Jang Ung, arousing emotion in South Korean netizens.

Having handed the bronze and silver medals to their Ukrainian and Russian recipients respectively with a brief “Congratulations” in English, Jang switched to Korean to congratulate the young South Korean gymnast while offereing him a traditional double-handed handshake.

This inevitably aroused the reunification spirit of South Koreans, who promptly commented on Twitter and via other SNS outlets about the moment’s relation to the single blood of the nation and how it caused eyes to fill with tears.