OpinionInside Incheon: North Koreans had their reasons not to smile

There was hardly a grin among North Korea's athletes as they were boisterously welcomed into the national stadium by the South Korean public at the opening ceremony.

The squad of around 100 athletes and officials were by and large stern-faced as they walked into a cacophony of cheers from the packed stands. Only a few cracked a smile. Wonder if they got a dressing down later?

Yes, the two countries are technically still at war, and tensions have been frequently ratcheted up by the North for some perceived insult.

But surely the athletes could reciprocate when they are greeted so warmly. It's only polite.

The world is a funny place. While we have a country desperate to reunify with its cousins across the 38th parallel, elsewhere there was a referendum to decide if a separate state should be created.

Thankfully the majority of Scots decided they still wanted to be part of the United Kingdom. If Scotland had broken away and become independent, it would have been the haggis which every so-called nationalist from Quebec to Jaffna and Catalonia to Kashmir would have feasted on.

Breaking apart is not a panacea for prosperity. Just look at what is happening in Ukraine. The dissolution of the former Soviet state in 1991 led to 15 new countries being born including Ukraine. Some want to get back into the comfort and bosom of mother Russia. And they are fighting for it with many innocent lives lost.

You cannot discover Shangri-La just by breaking away. This is a lesson every wannabe new country must take to heart. Yet, at the same time you can find economic salvation by reuniting.