N. Korea skips reports on World Cup matches involving S. Korea, US, Japan
North Korea's state media excluded games involving South Korea, the United States and Japan from its apparently unauthorized coverage of the ongoing FIFA World Cup matches. The North's state-run Korean Central Television aired four- to six-minute broadcasts on the results of the World Cup group-stage matches at the end of its daily evening newscasts from Monday through Thursday but excluded the results of games involving the three countries. The North, however, aired footage that showed pitch-side advertising boards for South Korean and U.S. companies, such as Hyundai Motor, The Coca-Cola Company and McDonald's. In the past, the North often blurred images related to South Korea and the U.S. in broadcasts of major sports events, such as advertising boards of companies from the two countries and the South Korean national flag. The North Korean broadcaster included major scenes from the World Cup matches in its coverage, raising suspicions the North aired them without authorization. North Korean state media outlets are not among the media rights licensees authorized by FIFA to broadcast the
