Jakarta, Aug 1 (IANS): Indonesian President Joko Widodo has invited North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to the opening ceremony of the Asian Games which will be held at Bung Karno Stadium here on August 18, authorities said on Wednesday.

An invitation was sent by the Indonesian Coordinating Human Development and Cultural Affairs Minister Puan Maharani to the President of the North Korean Supreme People's Assembly, Kim Yong-nam, during a meeting in Pyongyang earlier this week, Efe news reported.

Puan tweeted that "the Asian Games is a time for friendship between countries". Widodo also invited South Korean President Moon Jae-in to the inaugural ceremony.

North and South Korea agreed in June during a meeting at the border to walk under the same flag at the opening ceremony of the Asian Games and compete with joint teams in some categories.

The two Koreas, technically still at war, walked together at the opening of the Winter Olympic Games in February in the South Korean county of PyeongChang which marked the first steps towards the recent rapprochement between the two Koreas and Washington.