South Korea made it clear Friday that its nationals will be prohibited from carrying the North Korean flag even during the upcoming Asian Games.

The North Korean flag issue has sparked a controversy here with the opening of the games just a week away. North Korea is sending a 273-member delegation to the event to be held in the South Korean port city of Incheon.

Seoul’s unification ministry said related government organizations have reviewed the matter in consideration of the unique characteristics of inter-Korean relations and national sentiment in the South.

“South Korean people are banned from possessing the North Korean flag or bringing it into the stadium,” ministry spokesman Lim Byeong-cheol said at a press briefing.

Also, no North Korean flag will be raised on the streets of Incheon, just west of Seoul. (Yonhap)