Koreas discuss North's entry in Asiad

Koreas discuss North's entry in Asiad

Agence France-Presse, Seoul

South and North Korean sports officials on Sunday discussed arrangements for the Stalinist country's delegation to this year's Asian Games, officials said.

North Korea announced earlier this month it would take part in the Games, to be held from Sept. 29 to Oct. 15 in the southern city of Busan, making it the first Asiad in which all 43 Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) member countries will take part.

South Korea has promised to provide special transport services, security and accommodation for North Korean athletes and supporters.

The three-day meeting, which began on Saturday at the North's Mount Kumgang resort, focused on the number of players and spectators from the communist country, said the Busan Asian Games Organizing Committee (BAGOC).

Officials in Seoul, however, declined to give details, saying developments would be announced by the leader of South Korea's negotiating team, BAGOD secretary general Baek Ki-moon.

"There will be no announcement until Baek comes back here," a unification ministry official told AFP.

Baek told reporters on Saturday that the agenda would include the South's proposal to carry a flame, lit from the North's highest Mount Paektu, to Busan through the truce village of Panmunjom.

Panmunjom, the only contact point in the demilitarized zone, has been the symbol of Korea's division in 1945.

The rival Koreas, who have never officially ended their 1950- 1953 War, last played football against each other in 1990. North Korea won the first match in Pyongyang 2-1 and South Korea won the second in Seoul 1-0.