Monday, October 29, 2018

North, South Korean Youth Compete in Football Match


South Korea hosted North Korea in an under-15 football match on Monday. Despite being relatively unknown, the tournament is much more than a soccer fixture when it comes to diplomacy and peace efforts between the two Koreas.

Bruce Harrison reports from Chuncheon, South Korea.

IN: "  At the match east … "
OUT: SOC
DUR: 1:03


At the match east of Seoul, thousands of South Koreans wave their national flag.

They also wave the unification flag, which depicts the Korean Peninsula as a whole before war tore it apart.

Fans cheer loudly for BOTH sides.

The Ari Sports cup features eight teams, including regional rivals China and Vietnam.

But for the Korean organizers, at least, it's about more than winning. It's a rare glimpse at unification of North and South, a lost dream for some after nearly 70 years of division.

The muscle behind the event, Gangwon Province Governor Choi Moon-soon, uses sport to promote the North-South peace process.

It was this same tournament in China last year where Choi met North Korean officials and encouraged them to attend the Winter Olympics in South Korea.

If Choi has his way, the sports and cultural exchanges will continue. But for now nothing more, such as trading or investment, while international sanctions remain firmly in place against North Korea.

SOC