'N. Korea may boycott Universiade'

By Yi Whan-woo

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) has emerged as something that could threaten South Korea’s efforts to mend ties with North Korea.

With fear of the deadly coronavirus sweeping South Korea for weeks, North Korea may boycott the Gwangju Summer Universidade that will kick off July 3 for a 12-day run, experts said.

The reclusive state has been hypersensitive about the possible spread of contagious diseases due to concerns that its health and medical care system is ill-equipped to contain them.

And it will not be surprising if Pyongyang turns down Seoul’s offer to hold joint sporting events in August to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Korea’s liberation from Japanese colonial rule (1910-45), analysts added.

However, they said joint exploration between the two Koreas to recover historical relics at the UNESCO-designated Manwoldae Palace site in North Korea’s border city of Gaeseong is likely to continue. They added that South Korean archeologists will undergo health checks before entering the site.

“Countries around the world will dispatch their athletes to Gwangju to compete and build friendship,” said An Chan-il, the head of the World Institute for North Korea Studies.

“But Pyongyang will wait and see before deciding whether to compete at the Universiade considering it showed extreme fear over Ebola last year.”

Pyongyang put incoming tourists and high-ranking officials who traveled overseas last year under quarantine for 21 days to prevent the spread of deadly Ebola virus in the country.

According to the Gwangju Summer Universiade organizing committee, North Korea is not on the list of 115 countries that had their 10,926 athletes and officials signed up for the competition by the registration deadline on June 3. The 115 countries include Iran, Jordan and Lebanon.

The committee said it is still willing to accept North Korea’s registration, citing the fact that the country submitted an application in March to take part.

“It’s possible North Korea may capitalize on the MERS outbreak to press South Korea in their political relationship,” said Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies.

The government has considered organizing inter-Korean sports activities, such as a football match, in August to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Liberation Day, which falls on Aug. 15.

The effort comes after civil representatives from the two Koreas failed to reach a deal on June 2 to jointly commemorate the inter-Korean summit on June 2000.

An speculated the government will not be successful, either.

“North Korea will freak out to see its footballers making physical contact with their South Korean opponents in a packed stadium,” he said.

Both An and Yang, however, said Pyongyag will still support inter-Korean exploration to recover the historic relics at the site of Manwoldae Palace, which was established during the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392).

“The South Korean archaeologists will be required to pass the Gaeseong Industrial Complex (GIC) where North Korea asked us to set up thermal scanners in the wake of MERS outbreak,” Yang said.

Pyongyang asked Seoul on June 4 to set up three thermal scanners at the GIC, the inter-Korean industrial park, to screen those who are infected with MERS.

“North Korea will not question health conditions of archaeologists once they are confirmed safe,” An said.