By Kim Tae-jong, Woo Hae-chung
INCHEON _ The participation of North Korean athletes in the Asian Games here is apparently reflecting the current high level of inter-Korean tension.
First, the South-North Joint Cheering Team, a grassroots group formed to root for the North Korean team since the North failed to send cheerleaders, appears to be bearing the brunt of it.
"They didn't give us any explanation why they blocked us," the group's executive Kwak Kyung-jeon said Monday after a 30-minute tussle with security guards. His group's 300 members ultimately managed to enter Munhak Stadium for the inter-Korean women's football game there, but this was not their first unpleasant experience of the Games.
Initially, the organizers refused their request to allow them to cheer for the North's athletes and teams, saying that the games were all sold out in advance. Kwak later found that was not true, with stadiums pretty much empty for many events.
The organizing committee denied allegations it had intentionally attempted to block the cheering group's activities.
"We don't have any special regulations against them," said Bruce Lee, overseas press relations manager of the organizing committee.
Nevertheless, North Korean athletes and cheering squads are clearly under special watch. Organizers have sent them off from "ordinary" spectators with hundreds of policemen surrounding them.
An official from the organizing committee's security team said the police were sent because of the "flags" the North supporters carried into the stadium which feature the Korean Peninsula drawn in blue, symbolizing one Korea. Previously, it was used for joint inter-Korean teams.
"This is an international event, and it is clear violation that spectators use the event to promote or spread their political ideas at the Asaid," he said on condition of anonymity.
Even before the Games, the organizing committee hurriedly removed all national flags from the streets of the host city following local protests against the display of North Korean flags.
National flags of all the 45 participating nations in the Asiad were replaced by flags of the Olympic Council of Asia and the logo of the games.
There seems to be more going on than meets the eye. The government and the organizing committee have obviously been concerned about potential anti-Korean protests.
During a women's football quarterfinal match between the two Koreas at Munhak Stadium, some citizens approached the joint cheering group and hurled criticisms at them.
"Why are they supporting the North when the national team faces difficulties? Aren't they North Korean sympathizers?" a man in his 70s said on the condition of anonymity.
Hundreds of policemen were dispatched to the stadium to isolate the North cheer group from other spectators.
There were no further problems, even after the North Korean women's team defeated the South Koreans 2-1.
After the match, the North players ran toward the spectators to bow and show their gratitude for their support.
INCHEON _ The participation of North Korean athletes in the Asian Games here is apparently reflecting the current high level of inter-Korean tension.
First, the South-North Joint Cheering Team, a grassroots group formed to root for the North Korean team since the North failed to send cheerleaders, appears to be bearing the brunt of it.
"They didn't give us any explanation why they blocked us," the group's executive Kwak Kyung-jeon said Monday after a 30-minute tussle with security guards. His group's 300 members ultimately managed to enter Munhak Stadium for the inter-Korean women's football game there, but this was not their first unpleasant experience of the Games.
Initially, the organizers refused their request to allow them to cheer for the North's athletes and teams, saying that the games were all sold out in advance. Kwak later found that was not true, with stadiums pretty much empty for many events.
The organizing committee denied allegations it had intentionally attempted to block the cheering group's activities.
"We don't have any special regulations against them," said Bruce Lee, overseas press relations manager of the organizing committee.
Nevertheless, North Korean athletes and cheering squads are clearly under special watch. Organizers have sent them off from "ordinary" spectators with hundreds of policemen surrounding them.
An official from the organizing committee's security team said the police were sent because of the "flags" the North supporters carried into the stadium which feature the Korean Peninsula drawn in blue, symbolizing one Korea. Previously, it was used for joint inter-Korean teams.
"This is an international event, and it is clear violation that spectators use the event to promote or spread their political ideas at the Asaid," he said on condition of anonymity.
Even before the Games, the organizing committee hurriedly removed all national flags from the streets of the host city following local protests against the display of North Korean flags.
National flags of all the 45 participating nations in the Asiad were replaced by flags of the Olympic Council of Asia and the logo of the games.
There seems to be more going on than meets the eye. The government and the organizing committee have obviously been concerned about potential anti-Korean protests.
During a women's football quarterfinal match between the two Koreas at Munhak Stadium, some citizens approached the joint cheering group and hurled criticisms at them.
"Why are they supporting the North when the national team faces difficulties? Aren't they North Korean sympathizers?" a man in his 70s said on the condition of anonymity.
Hundreds of policemen were dispatched to the stadium to isolate the North cheer group from other spectators.
There were no further problems, even after the North Korean women's team defeated the South Koreans 2-1.
After the match, the North players ran toward the spectators to bow and show their gratitude for their support.
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