Inter-Korean table tennis team likely

Kim Un-Yong, chairman of the Korea Sports Council (KSC), reached a broad agreement on the formation of a single inter-Korean table tennis team for the 46th World Table Tennis Championships in Osaka, Japan on Apr. 23, it was learned Friday. Kim reportedly signed the pact during a recent secret contact with North Korean sports officials. In an interview with Japan`s Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper on Thursday, Kim said he had met with a top-ranking North Korean sports official in a third country late last month. The paper quoted Kim as saying that the North was of the opinion that there were no difficult technical problems to solve and that there was ample time to form the joint team.

Noting that South and North Korean officials are slated to meet on the issue this weekend, the KSC chairman said that if their talks proceed smoothly, a joint inter-Korean table tennis squad could make its debut at the event. He also said he had received a letter from his North Korean counterpart, Park Myong-Chul, proposing that the two Koreas step up sports exchanges and cooperation, including the formation of joint sports teams and joint participation in various international sports events. Kim said he consented to the overture in a reply to the North Korean official. It is rare for the KSC chairman to announce details of sports-related discussions between the two Koreas.

Touching on possible obstacles to the formation of joint sports teams, Kim unveiled the following plans aimed at averting any problems: forming the joint teams with equal numbers from each side, wearing matching uniforms and adopting the same flag that was jointly used during last year`s Sydney Olympic Games.

[Yonhap]