Exclusive: Plan to host World Cup matches in North Korea not affected by rising tensions

By David Owen

May 27 – One of the leaders of South Korea’s 2022 World Cup bid has said he is keen that rising tensions on the Korean Peninsula should not interfere with attempts to involve North Korea in the bid.

Han Sung-Joo, chairman of the Korea 2022 World Cup Bidding Committee, has exclusively told insideworldfootball that tensions between the two countries following the sinking of a South Korean warship were “all the more reason we should promote peace and reconciliation through sports, if not now certainly in the days ahead”.

He added: “We are talking about 2022 – 12 years from now – when things will be quite different in inter-Korea relations and the regional situation.

“Sport is one area where exchanges should continue, despite political conflict, and through which tension can be reduced.”

Relations between North and South Korea have deteriorated sharply in recent days, since an international team of investigators announced that a North Korean submarine had fired a homing torpedo on March 26, sinking a 1,200-tonne warship and killing 46 sailors on board.

Lee Myung-bak, the South Korean President, has said that Seoul would suspend trade, ban North Korean ships from its waters and take its northern neighbour to the United Nations Security Council.

Pyongyang, which has called the investigation results a fabrication, has responded by announcing it would sever all links with South Korea.

Both countries have qualified for this year’s World Cup, due to kick off in South Africa in little more than two weeks’ time.

Insideworldfootball revealed this month that Han (pictured with FIFA President Sepp Blatter), a former Minister of Foreign Affairs, planned to attend North Korea’s match against Brazil at Johannesburg’s Ellis Park stadium on June 15 - the Asian team’s first match in a World Cup final tournament for 44 years.

He confirmed yesterday this was still his intention.

Insideworldfootball first reported in December that a Korean World Cup could see matches taking place in both parts of the divided peninsula.

The Korea 2022 website says there have already been talks about the possibility of co-operation with North Korea.

“If South Korea wins the hosting rights for the World Cup 2022, if proper efforts are made, it may be possible for North Korea to stage a couple of games,” the website says.

It goes on: “By doing so, we hope this shared experience of 2022 World Cup will one day become an important foundation for ending the tension between the two Koreas and finally bringing lasting peace to the peninsula.”

South Korea’s rivals for the 2022 World Cup include Australia, Japan, Qatar and the United States.

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