NK hopes sport event to pave way for diplomacy

By Kang Hyun-kyung

North Korea is seeking to increase cooperation with other nations and is using the international pro-wrestling tournament to send such a signal to the outside world.

Speaking to the opening ceremony of the wrestling contest at the Ryugyoung Chung Ju-Young Gymnasium in Pyongyang Saturday, Chang Ung, chairman of the International Martial Arts Committee of the North, said his country was willing to work together with other nations to bolster harmony among other nations.

“Under the slogan of independence, peace and friendship, North Korea will make our utmost effort to increase cooperation with other nations in various areas, including exchanges in sports,” Chang was quoted as saying by the state-controlled Central News Agency.

Seventeen fighters from eight countries competed during the contest which started from Saturday.

The North didn’t unveil the list of athletes that participated in the tournament.

The tournament drew keen international attention such as Antonio Inoki, a retired

Japanese pro-wrestler and now a member of the Upper House of Japan, who co-hosted the event along with the North.

Kyodo News Agency reported that Inoki had a meeting with Kim Young-nam, chairman of the Supreme People’s Assembly on Saturday and discussed ways to resolve abducted Japanese nationals and increase future sports cooperation between the two nations.

The North Korean media reported that during the meeting, Inoki handed over his gift to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un from Kim Young-nam. Details of their conversation were not made public.

In a separate meeting with North Korean officials and athletes, Inoki was quoted as saying that sports and culture brought nations together and their relations tended to strengthen further once they began exchange programs in sports.

“I hope that the tournaments can open new doors for relations between Japan and North Korea so that the two nations can become closer,” Inoki was quoted as saying.

Sources speculated that Inoki and Kim might have discussed issues of mutual concern such as the possible repatriation of Japanese abductees. North Korea and Japan have recently been taking steps toward closer relations in an apparent turnaround from the once-chilly ties they had in the past.

There have been rumors that Pyongyang and Tokyo will step up their efforts toward closer cooperation with both sides poised to exchange high-level officials to discuss issues such as the possible release of abductees.

Since China has been favoring South Korea recently as seen in Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s visit to Seoul, the North has been desperate to seek new countries to work with. China has been the North’s closest ally for much of its history but has recently stayed away from the recluse nation.