Football chief demands flag hosting for AFC match in N. Korea

By Park Sae-jin Posted : January 25, 2017, 16:12 Updated : January 25, 2017, 16:12

[Yonhap News Photo]


South Korea's football supremo urged North Korea Wednesday to allow women footballers to hoist national flags for a historic inter-Korean match in April when Pyongyang hosts a qualifier of the women's Asian Cup in Jordan.

South Korea were grouped with North Korea, Uzbekistan, Hong Kong and India in Group B for AFC Women's Asian Cup qualifying matches to be held in Pyongyang. The inter-Korean match was set for April 7. The South's unification ministry hinted Tuesday at approving a cross-border trip by South Korea's female football team.

Korea Football Association (KFA) President Chung Mong-gyu said North Korea should allow South Korea to hoist its flag and sing a national anthem, citing Pyongyang's agreement with international soccer organizations.

"Clearly, we should be allowed to sing our national anthem and raise our flag," Chung told reporters. "I hope we will be able to do so."

Seoul has almost suspended all civilian inter-Korean trade and exchanges as part of strengthened international sanctions triggered by North Korea's military provocations including a series of missile and nuclear tests.

There have been no official matches in Pyongyang between South and North Korean national football teams. The only inter-Korean match in Pyongyang was held in 1990 when South Korea sent a team for a friendly. In 2008, a FIFA World Cup qualifier in Pyongyang had to be moved to Shanghai due to a row over flags and national anthem.

The two Koreas are still technically at war, with each refusing to recognize the other side as an independent state. South Korean visitors would be jailed if they carry a flag into Pyongyang while North Koreans have been allowed to wave flags during international games in Seoul.
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