A Vatican Swiss Guard is framed by taekwondo athlethes from South Korea performing for Pope Francis during his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Wednesday, May 30, 2018. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
The Associated Press
VATICAN CITY (AP) - South Korean taekwondo athletes have performed for Pope Francis, after a planned show of Korean unity at the Vatican fell apart when the North pulled out at the last minute.
Pope Francis didn't seem to notice or mind, thanking the athletes Wednesday for their exhibition "which was a show of the will for peace, the two Koreas together."
South Korea's World Taekwondo organization, the Seoul-led international body, said last week that a demonstration team from the North withdrew from the performance over the U.S.-South Korean military drills.
The performance had been planned to ceremonially open the World Taekwondo's Grand Prix competition this week in Rome.
The South's team performed for thousands of people in St. Peter's Square and featured a young girl releasing a dove in a sign of peace.
Pope Francis, bottom center, is driven through the crowd as he arrives for his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Wednesday, May 30, 2018. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
The Associated Press
Taekwondo athlethes from South Korea perform for Pope Francis during his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Wednesday, May 30, 2018. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
The Associated Press
Taekwondo athletes from South Korea hug each other after perforimg for Pope Francis during his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Wednesday, May 30, 2018. South Korean taekwondo athletes have performed for the pontiff after a planned show of Korean unity at the Vatican fell apart when the North pulled out at the last minute. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
The Associated Press
Pope Francis waves to faithful as he leaves at the end of the weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Wednesday, May 30, 2018. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
The Associated Press
Pope Francis waves to faithful as he arrives for his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Wednesday, May 30, 2018. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
The Associated Press
Pope Francis leaves at the end of the weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Wednesday, May 30, 2018. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
The Associated Press
Pope Francis waves to faithful as he arrives for his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Wednesday, May 30, 2018. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
The Associated Press
Taekwondo athlethes from South Korea perform for Pope Francis during his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Wednesday, May 30, 2018. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
The Associated Press