Read this article in:
11 August, 1999North Korea clinched victory in the first of two historic football matches against a trade union team from the South.
KOREA: The match was the first event of its kind since the division of the country more than 50 years ago. In the final minutes of the game the North scored the deciding goal to make the final score 5-4 to the home team.
The matches have been organised by South Korea's Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), who represent the country's second largest trade union. Although the two countries are still technically at war with each other, Seoul gave the go-ahead for the trip a few days ago.
The KCTU football squad comprises 22 workers, who are selected after a day of trials, accompanied by another 15 public-relations officials and executives. North Korea's news agency KCNA said the team was greeted on arrival on Tuesday by a group of children who hung garlands around their necks.
Seoul's decision to allow the event was based on Seoul's President Kim Dae-jung's "sunshine policy" of more openness with the reclusive North. But critics say that the events provide a propaganda coup for the North.
Kim Dae-jung only recently agreed to the kick-off. The initial decision brought widespread international condemnation. The KCTU say that the games will promote greater contact and reconciliation between the two Koreas.
On Friday there will be fixtures for combined teams, including players from both countries.
Source: BBC Online
The matches have been organised by South Korea's Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), who represent the country's second largest trade union. Although the two countries are still technically at war with each other, Seoul gave the go-ahead for the trip a few days ago.
The KCTU football squad comprises 22 workers, who are selected after a day of trials, accompanied by another 15 public-relations officials and executives. North Korea's news agency KCNA said the team was greeted on arrival on Tuesday by a group of children who hung garlands around their necks.
Seoul's decision to allow the event was based on Seoul's President Kim Dae-jung's "sunshine policy" of more openness with the reclusive North. But critics say that the events provide a propaganda coup for the North.
Kim Dae-jung only recently agreed to the kick-off. The initial decision brought widespread international condemnation. The KCTU say that the games will promote greater contact and reconciliation between the two Koreas.
On Friday there will be fixtures for combined teams, including players from both countries.
Source: BBC Online