Basketball friendlies between two Koreas kick off in Pyongyang
- 6 years ago
남북 15년만의 통일농구경기 시작... 김정은 모습 아직 안보여
South and North Korea are playing several basketball friendly matches today in Pyongyang.
These friendly games were scheduled to have begun just a few hours ago.
Let's connect to our unification ministry correspondent Oh Jung-hee who's on the line for us.
Jung-hee, what are you hearing?
Daniel.
As you've mentioned, the inter-Korean basketball games started at around 3:40 PM, Korea time, at Ryugyong Chung Ju-yung Gymnasium in Pyongyang.
Today's games are between teams where South and North Korean players are mixed together.
If everything's going as scheduled, then today's first match -- the game between female players -- would have ended... and the game between male players will be underway right now.
We've heard from the South Korean Joint Press Pool there in Pyongyang... that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un -- who's known for his love of basketball -- did not attend today's games.
But, high-level officials from the two Koreas were there to watch the event.
From the South Korean side, the unification minister Cho Myoung-gyon and the President of South Korea's Basketball Assocation Pang Yul were present.
And from the North Korean side,... Ri Son-kwon, the head of Pyongyang's inter-Korean affairs committee... and Kim Il-guk, North Korea's sports minister were there.
Take a listen to what these senior officials had to say at today's games:
"The basketball games are a happy occasion for the Korean people, organized by the leaders of the two Koreas who're aiming to bring down the barrier of division and put forward reunification. Through the games, the athletes will be able to treasure the affection and trust of one people."
"Ryugyong Chung Ju-yung Gymnasium has a long history of inter-Korean interactions. It has once again become a place of harmony, after the South Korean art troupe's concert in April. Thank you to all the Pyongyang citizens for filling up this gym and welcoming us."
This is the fourth round of inter-Korean basketball games -- the last one having been held 15 years ago.
Today's games are expected to wrap up in less than two hours.
Daniel.
South and North Korea are playing several basketball friendly matches today in Pyongyang.
These friendly games were scheduled to have begun just a few hours ago.
Let's connect to our unification ministry correspondent Oh Jung-hee who's on the line for us.
Jung-hee, what are you hearing?
Daniel.
As you've mentioned, the inter-Korean basketball games started at around 3:40 PM, Korea time, at Ryugyong Chung Ju-yung Gymnasium in Pyongyang.
Today's games are between teams where South and North Korean players are mixed together.
If everything's going as scheduled, then today's first match -- the game between female players -- would have ended... and the game between male players will be underway right now.
We've heard from the South Korean Joint Press Pool there in Pyongyang... that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un -- who's known for his love of basketball -- did not attend today's games.
But, high-level officials from the two Koreas were there to watch the event.
From the South Korean side, the unification minister Cho Myoung-gyon and the President of South Korea's Basketball Assocation Pang Yul were present.
And from the North Korean side,... Ri Son-kwon, the head of Pyongyang's inter-Korean affairs committee... and Kim Il-guk, North Korea's sports minister were there.
Take a listen to what these senior officials had to say at today's games:
"The basketball games are a happy occasion for the Korean people, organized by the leaders of the two Koreas who're aiming to bring down the barrier of division and put forward reunification. Through the games, the athletes will be able to treasure the affection and trust of one people."
"Ryugyong Chung Ju-yung Gymnasium has a long history of inter-Korean interactions. It has once again become a place of harmony, after the South Korean art troupe's concert in April. Thank you to all the Pyongyang citizens for filling up this gym and welcoming us."
This is the fourth round of inter-Korean basketball games -- the last one having been held 15 years ago.
Today's games are expected to wrap up in less than two hours.
Daniel.