South Korean weightlifters on Tuesday departed for Pyongyang to compete in a continental competition, saying they’d like to fly their national flag north of the border for the first time.

A delegation of 22 lifters and 19 officials flew for Beijing from Gimpo International Airport, western Seoul, and are scheduled to board a connecting flight bound for the North Korean capital later Tuesday.

They’re set to compete at the 2013 Asian Cup and Interclub Weightlifting Championship from Wednesday to next Tuesday.

Late last month, North Korea invited South Korean weightlifters to enter the event. Last week, the unification ministry, which handles inter-Korean affairs in Seoul, approved the cross-border trip by the delegation. Pyongyang also vowed to guarantee the safety of South Korean representatives.

The North also approved the hoisting of the South Korean national flag and playing of its national anthem on the communist country’s soil for the first time in history.

South Korean athletes will have to reach the podium to see the flag raised. The national anthem, though, will only be played if a South Korean lifter wins a gold medal.

Cheon Jung-pyung in men’s 85-kilogram division and Won Jeong-ik, a former Olympian competing in the men’s 69-kg class, are considered title favorites.

Joun Chang-boum, head of the South Korean delegation, said his athletes will give their best both inside and outside the arena.

“It will be difficult to beat other weightlifting powers such as China, Kazakhstan and North Korea and play our national anthem, but we’ll give our best,” he said. “Flying the national flag won’t be that hard since we just have to finish in the top third for that. I will also make sure our athletes lead an exemplary life in the athletes’ village.” (Yonhap News)