S. Korea ahead with W. Cup bid

S. Korea ahead with W. Cup bid

SEOUL (AFP): South Korea plans to push ahead with its solo 2002 World Cup bid until contacted by North Korea, which has expressed interest in co-hosting the event, a senior official said here yesterday.

"We don't know when and how North Korea will make its proposal. So for the time being there will be no change in our activities to obtain the rights to host the finals," Deputy Culture and Sports Minister Choi Chang-Shin said.

"We cannot suddenly change tactics at this stage," the minister told journalists here of Seoul's battle with rival Japan, and the International Football Federation's (FIFA) June deadline for selection of the host country for the 2002 Cup.