South Korea leads basketball diplomacy in North Korea

SEOUL, KOMPAS.com – South Korea refers its delegation to North Korea to improve relations between the two countries. This time, Seoul sent a delegation of 50 basketball players

. Launched from AFP South Korean Minister of Unification Cho Myoung-gyon will be the head of the delegation of athletes in Pyongyang this time. The delegation was dispatched Tuesday 7/7/2018

This is the first time that a senior South Korean official has returned to Pyongyang following a summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Singapore last month. Cho declined to comment on his visit to Pyongyang this time or on the agenda during his stay in North Korea when he was going to meet Kim's leader.

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Cho will also meet with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo who will visit Pyongyang on Thursday (07/05 / 2018) this week

Only the main program of the athletes' delegation will be this time to organize a friendly match with North Korea. In total, four matches took place before the delegation returned to South Korea on Friday (6/7/2018). "We hope this friendly match will strengthen peace on the Korean peninsula," said Cho.

The favorite sport of Kim Jong Un. The North Korean leader is even friends with former basketball player Dennis Rodman, who has had several visits to Pyongyang

The basketball of friendship also was held in Pyongyang in 2003 in a game sponsored by the Hyundai Group. This time coach Hur Jae also participated in a friendly match in 2003.

Diplomacy in sport played a major role in helping to melt the relationship between the two countries that are technically at war

The two Koreas have already sent a delegation to the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, in February

The two countries have agreed to make the joint team in three sports, namely the canoe princesses, the two women, and the two women. Rowing and basketball at the Asian Games in Indonesia in August.

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