N. Korea's entry disrupts Asiad soccer

N. Korea's entry disrupts Asiad soccer

Associated Press, Seoul

North Korea's soccer team will be assigned to one of the six first-round groups in an expanded Asian Games tournament, organizers said Tuesday.

Until North Korea announced its sudden entry last week, 24 nations had been scheduled to compete in soccer in the Sept. 29- Oct. 14 Asian Games in the southern port city of Busan.

The competition was divided into six groups of four nations, with two nations from each group advancing to the second round.

"After consulting the Olympic Committee of Asia, we have decided to assign North Korea to one of the six groups by lottery and make five nations, instead of four, compete in that group," said Lee Chun-sup, an official at the Busan Asian Games Organizing Committee.

"That means the countries in that group have to play one more match than the others," Lee said. "But I don't think anybody will complain because the OCA and national Olympic committees have promised full cooperation with North Korea's entry."

Lee also said North Korea's late entry may open the way for a Palestinian soccer team to play in Asian Games.

Organizers had earlier rejected the Palestinian team because its application came after the July 8 deadline for entries.

"Now that North Korea is accepted, we are discussing accepting the Palestinian soccer team as well," Lee said.

North Korea promised last week that it would send a delegation to this year's Asian Games, where athletes from 43 nations will compete across more than 30 sports.

The decision was significant because the communist country had shunned all previous international sporting events in South Korea, including this year's soccer World Cup.

Its athletes were expected to compete in about 20 events, including gymnastics, judo, wrestling and soccer.

During high-level talks with South Korea in Seoul on Monday, North Korea said it would send 600 athletes, officials, dancers and musicians.