[Yonhap News Photo]
A North Korean taekwondo demonstration team led by International Olympic Committee member Chang Ung arrived in South Korea, marking the first inter-Korean sports exchange since a new liberal government took office in Seoul.
South Korean sports officials hope the trip will provide an opportunity for the two Koreas to talk about forming a unified team in women's hockey that would compete in next year's Winter Olympics in the eastern ski resort of Pyeongchang.
During their nine-day stay, North Korean martial arts experts will demonstrate their skills four times in events sponsored by the Seoul-based World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) which will host an international competition in Muju from June 24-30. The WTF is the IOC-sanctioned governing body of traditional Korean martial art.
The 36-member team includes Chang Ung, the honorary president of the North Korea-led International Taekwondo Federation (ITF), 12 performers and others. The two taekwondo bodies held a joint performance at the 2015 WTF championships in Russia under an agreement to maintain exchanges and cooperation.
Sports officials hope the trip will lead to the North's participation in next year's Winter Olympics in the eastern ski resort of Pyeongchang. South Korean Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon has said the presence of North Korean players would boost Olympic ticket sales.
Previously, sports games were used to promote inter-Korean reconciliation. North Korea took part in the 2014 Asian Games in South Korea's western port of Incheon. Seoul suspended almost all civilian inter-Korean exchanges in January 2016. President Moo Jae-in hopes to resume cross-border exchanges, but Pyongyang has yet to respond to his peace initiative due to high tensions.
South Korea's new Sports Minister Do Jong-hwan said earlier that he would
have discussions with International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach and Chang on putting together a joint Korean hockey squad.
The Koreas have fielded joint teams in table tennis and men's football, but they have never had a single squad in any Olympic sport. South Korea's female hockey team earned an Olympic spot as the host nation. North Korea didn't even compete in the qualifying tournament. Do's idea is still controversial because that would disrupt a training program by South Korean players.
Lim Chang-won = cwlim34@ajunews.com
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.
