Lupa Kata Sandi? Klik di Sini

atau Masuk melalui

Belum Memiliki Akun Daftar di Sini


atau Daftar melalui

Sudah Memiliki Akun Masuk di Sini

Konfirmasi Email

Kami telah mengirimkan link aktivasi melalui email ke rudihamdani@gmail.com.

Klik link aktivasi dan dapatkan akses membaca 2 artikel gratis non Laput di koran dan Majalah Tempo

Jika Anda tidak menerima email,
Kirimkan Lagi Sekarang

North Hosts South Korea in World Cup Qualifier

Translator

Tempo.co

Editor

Laila Afifa

15 October 2019 17:33 WIB

TEMPO.CO, Seoul - South Korean football fans will be left in the dark as their national team play in North Korea for the first time in 30 years on Tuesday, Oct. 15, with Pyongyang refusing to broadcast the World Cup qualifier live amid a return of chilled relations with Seoul.

Last year saw a flurry of sports diplomacy between the two Koreas, who fielded a joint ice hockey team and marched together at the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics in South Korea.

That set the stage for a series of summits between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and the South's Moon Jae-in.

The two Koreas even talked about a joint bid to host the 2032 Summer Olympics.

But relations have since cooled and the football teams will be competing amid a tense political backdrop with international negotiations stalled over North Korea's nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles.

In addition to the television blackout, the North has not given approval for South Korean fans to travel to the game.

South Korean media have also been blocked, with only some 30 staff members from the South's football association (KFA) with limited communications allowed to relay information about the game, Seoul officials said.

Only home fans were expected to fill the 50,000-capacity Kim Il Sung Stadium, but no crowd was seen as of 5:00 p.m. (0800 GMT), 30 minutes before kick-off, an official at the KFA told Reuters.

North Korea has promised to provide footage of the match via DVD before the delegation heads home, the South's unification ministry in charge of inter-Korean affairs said.

"We would need time for technical checks, but despite some delays, our people will be able to watch the game," a ministry official said on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue.

North Korean state media has made no mention of the qualifier.

South Korea's squad, including Tottenham Hotspur striker Son Heung-min, arrived in the North's capital on Monday via Beijing instead of a shorter route between the inter-Korean border, after months of no response from Pyongyang.

"There have always been at least some South Korean fans, so it should be our first time to play without any," defender Kim Min-jae said before departing for Beijing on Monday.

"But we can overcome and play well, thinking it's better if the stadium is crowded than empty."

The countries last faced each other in Pyongyang in a soccer international in 1990.

The last time they met in a World Cup qualifier was in Seoul 10 years ago, a match the North lost 1-0 before accusing South Korea of poisoning their players' food ahead of the match.

Two other qualifiers that had been scheduled for North Korea had to be switched to Shanghai after Pyongyang refused to raise the South's flag and play the national anthem.

Ahead of Tuesday's match some South Korean fans have expressed concern about the safety of the players while others said the lack of cooperation from North Korea shows how difficult it would be to co-host the Olympics.

"How do we co-host the Olympics when we can't even watch one single qualifier?" said a user on Naver, a major web portal.

Another said: "Best if we win, but it's all fine to lose, I just hope our players will return safely." 

REUTERS



BP2MI Optimizes Coordination on Missing Indonesians in South Korea's Southern Coast

1 hari lalu

BP2MI Optimizes Coordination on Missing Indonesians in South Korea's Southern Coast

BP2MI will continue coordinating with the Indonesian Embassy in South Korea in the search for Indonesian workers missing in a fishing boat accident.


Indonesia, South Korea Aim to Strengthen Strategic Partnership in Vice Ministers Meeting in Seoul

4 hari lalu

Indonesia, South Korea Aim to Strengthen Strategic Partnership in Vice Ministers Meeting in Seoul

Indonesia and South Korea are committed to continue strengthening the Special Strategic Partnership to advance various mutually beneficial cooperation


Indonesian Embassy Continues Searching for Four Missing Crew Members of Sunken Boat in South Korea

6 hari lalu

Indonesian Embassy Continues Searching for Four Missing Crew Members of Sunken Boat in South Korea

The Indonesian Embassy in Seoul continues searching for the four missing crew members of the sunken 2 Haesinho fishing boat.


BP2MI Issues Response to 7 Indonesian Crew Members Drowned in South Korea: 2 Reported Dead

7 hari lalu

BP2MI Issues Response to 7 Indonesian Crew Members Drowned in South Korea: 2 Reported Dead

BP2MI expresses its condolences to the Indonesian migrant workers who were victims of a shipwreck in South Korean waters on Saturday


Shin Tae-Yong Calls Up 10 Naturalized Players for 2026 World Cup Qualifiers

11 hari lalu

Shin Tae-Yong Calls Up 10 Naturalized Players for 2026 World Cup Qualifiers

Indonesia's football team coach Shin Tae-Yong sets a new precedent in the country's football history by calling up 10 naturalized players in one match


5 Countries That Impose Mandatory Military Service, the Longest is North Korea

11 hari lalu

5 Countries That Impose Mandatory Military Service, the Longest is North Korea

There are many countries that impose mandatory military service on their citizens.


South Korea Publicly Orders Some Doctors Who Walked Off the Job Back to Work

15 hari lalu

South Korea Publicly Orders Some Doctors Who Walked Off the Job Back to Work

South Korea publicly ordered 13 doctors, who have been vocal about a walkout over a health system reform plan, to return to work or face penalties.


Top 8 Largest Oil Refineries in the World, Three in South Korea

17 hari lalu

Top 8 Largest Oil Refineries in the World, Three in South Korea

Three of the eight largest oil refineries in the world are currently located in South Korea.


Indonesia, South Korea Agree to Resume Cooperation on KF-21 Fighter Jets Development

24 hari lalu

Indonesia, South Korea Agree to Resume Cooperation on KF-21 Fighter Jets Development

Indonesia and South Korea have agreed to continue to work on the joint development of the KF-21 fighter jet.


South Korea Doctors to Keep Up Protests as Hospitals Turn Patients Away

25 hari lalu

South Korea Doctors to Keep Up Protests as Hospitals Turn Patients Away

South Korean doctors vow to stay off the job in protest at government plans to increase medical school admissions to boost the healthcare sector.