A detente in inter-Korean relations came during the 1990 Asian Games in Beijing, China, when both countries agreed to compete as a unified team.

[3] The current variation of the flag features a sky blue silhouette of the Korean Peninsula, Jeju Island, and Ulleungdo on a white background.

[1] The agreement creating the flag explicitly excluded Korea's westernmost, southernmost, and easternmost islands: Maando, Marado, and Dokdo (Liancourt Rocks), respectively.

[1][3] Ulleungdo and the Liancourt Rocks were removed in an official capacity at the 2018 Winter Olympics[5][6] and other events in 2018, following pressure from the IOC and Japan.

[1] Japan allegedly pressured South Korea to officially remove Ulleungdo as well, citing the fact that it was not on the flag used in Chiba in 1990.

South Korean government policy allows the use of the Liancourt Rocks variation during private events or by people acting in an unofficial capacity, such as cheerleaders.

For example, in the 2018 Winter Olympics, the Liancourt Rocks variation was used on the women's ice hockey team's training uniforms, by the North Korean cheerleading groups during the opening ceremony, and during the team's evaluation match five days prior to the opening ceremony (which was hosted by the Korea Ice Hockey Association and not officially part of the Olympic schedule).

[9] During the 2018 Winter Paralympics, negotiations were stalled by North Korean officials requesting that the Liancourt Rocks be included on the flag.