N. Korea to miss Universiade in S. Korea
North Korea has told the South Korean host of the upcoming Summer Universiade that it will not participate in the athletic competition due to political reasons, the event's organizers said Monday.
The communist country has withdrawn its earlier plan to send 75 athletes and 33 officials to the multisport competition for university athletes via email, according to Kim Yoon-suk, secretary general of the organizing committee.
Kim said the committee received the email from North Korea at 6:31 p.m. last Friday. It was sent by Jon Kuk-man, head of the North's university sports federation.
In the message, North Korea said it won't take part in the Universiade because of the scheduled opening of the Seoul office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights. The field office, which will open Tuesday, will be charged with monitoring and documenting human rights in North Korea.
The International University Sports Federation's secretary general, Eric Saintrond, was also listed on the recipient list, but Kim said FISU has yet to receive the same email.
Kim said the organizing committee is working with the Unification Ministry, which handles inter-Korean affairs, to determine the veracity of the North Korean message.
"It's premature to conclude that North Korea has completely pulled out of the Universiade," Kim added.
Yoon Jang-hyun, mayor of Gwangju and president of the organizing committee, also held out hope that the North will change its mind.
"We express regret over the email from North Korea," Yoon said.
"But with an open mind, we will wait until the last minute for North Korea to participate."
In March, North Korea had said it would compete in athletics, diving, artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, table tennis, judo, women's football and handball.
However, the country missed the June 3 deadline to formally register for the event and also let the second deadline of June 15 pass.
North Korea took part in the last Universiade held in South Korea, the 2003 summer competition in Daegu.
On May 29, the North threatened to strike back at the South for the opening of the human rights office. Pyongyang dubbed the plan to set up the office "an unpardonable provocation."
North Korea has long been labeled one of the world's worst human rights violators, but it has often bristled at such criticism, calling it a U.S.-led attempt to topple its regime. (Yonhap)
(责任编辑:行业动态)
- Pakistan to host South Africa before ICC Women’s T20 World Cup
- A Virginia Democrat won her recount by a single vote.
- 广东省动物疫病防控体系建设调研组赴西藏林芝市推动对口支援工作
- Who will challenge for Man City's PL crown next season?
- [Online Predators] Deepfake pornography haunts S. Korea
- The Techies Who Lunch
- Posting your kid's photo to Facebook? Maybe think twice.
- Radio Alwan: The pirate radio station bringing news and entertainment to Syria.
- YouTube to double pre
- Swifties for Kamala raises over $100,000 in donations for Harris campaign
- Moon pledges support for southeastern region's megacity project
- Judge Alex Kozinski faces judicial conduct inquiry over allegations of sexual harassment.
- 推进文化惠民 助力脱贫攻坚
-
This shark lives for centuries. Scientists discover how it resists aging.
There are Greenland sharks older than the United States.This deep sea species has an expected lifesp ...[详细] -
昨2)日,天气晴好,雨城区大兴镇的曾玉冰婆婆,把刊登了十九大相关新闻的《雅安日报》专门拿到楼下,与好友赁仲秋婆婆一起学习十九大精神。“听说十九大报告中专门提到了咱们养老的事儿,我特意把这些报纸搜集起来 ...[详细]
-
Steve Jobs' really bad job application up for auction
An original job application from late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs is up for auction.RR Auction Compa ...[详细] -
雅安日报/北纬网讯14日,由市文体广电新闻出版局主办,市文化馆承办,各县区文新广局协办的“喜迎十九大·脱贫攻坚·文化惠民”主题文艺创作优秀作品展演暨颁奖典礼在市文化馆举行。此次参演的节目均为“4·20 ...[详细]
-
Pressure boost squeezes out more hydrogen from artificial leaves
Hydrogen-producing artificial leaves might soon be even better at their jobs thanks to a new study t ...[详细] -
U.S. says 5G networks are 'vulnerable' to undermine Huawei: report
It's no secret that the U.S. doesn't want Huawei or any other Chinese tech company selling its netwo ...[详细] -
Parliament seeks to toughen punishment for child abuse homicide
This Feb. 17, 2021, file photo shows people calling for stern punishment against two parents, who al ...[详细] -
Prince Harry is making the U.K. government nervous because he could invite Obama to his wedding.
Prince Henry of Wales of the House of Windsor, the second son of Charles, Prince of Wales and Diana, ...[详细] -
17 Spectacular Outdoor Staircases
Spotting a steep set of stairs might elicit a groan from many. But in the right environment, a set o ...[详细] -
The DOJ is still trying to block abortions for undocumented teens.
The Trump administration’s latest attempt to block undocumented teenagers’ access to abortion fizzle ...[详细]
- A Journey Into the Mind of Stephen King
- North Korea fires two short
- Donald Trump tweets he never thought Roy Moore would beat Doug Jones.
- 4834名贫困家庭劳动者享受了政策红利
- Keurig K Mini deal — get $30 off at Target
- This Congressman wins the prize for the most odious attack on Bob Mueller.
- Amazon's international stores are shipping to Australia again