By Kang Seung-woo
Staff Reporter

North Korea has tried to prevent South Korean cheering squads from entering its stadiums during World Cup qualifications.

In disapproval of the South displaying its flag or playing its national anthem in Pyongyang, the communist country has moved Wednesday's match between the two nations in the final qualifying round to Hongkou Stadium in Shanghai, China.

Now, the North is using another tactic to prevent South Korean rooters from coming to the qualifier ― excessively hiking ticket prices for the match.

Cho Chung-yun, the vice president of the South's Korea Football Association (KFA), said the North had started selling tickets for the match at very high prices. He said the most expensive seats cost 1,400 Chinese yuan (223,000 won, $204) and other tickets are appropriated in sequence for 400, 350 and 250.

In the final qualifying rounds, a host country can fix ticket price and take all profits from ticket sales.

``I think they have increased the price to keep South Koreans who live in Shanghai from visiting the stadium,'' Cho said.

``At those prices, there will not be many crowds in the stands.''

According to a document, the average salary for a person in Shanghai, the largest city in China in terms of population, was 2,400 yuan per month in 2005, and ticket prices for the Chinese professional football league range from 20 to 200 yuan.

In addition, a pass for the best seats at a third-round qualifying match between North and South Korea held March 26 at the same venue sold for between 500 and 600 yuan.

The KFA charges 50,000, 30,000 and 20,000 won for international matches held in South Korea.

ksw@koreatimes.co.kr