Who Would Call Them Women, the North Korean Ice Hokey Players

"Attaboy, attaboy. Good for you!!"

It was in the Misawashi Ice Rink in Japan where the opening game of the 5th Winter Asian Games got started yesterday. North Korea took on Kazakhstan in the first game of the women`s full league.

Members of the Pro-Pyongyang Federation of Korean Residents in Japan got together from 8 regions including Aomori Fracture and Tokyo to cheer up and support the North Korean team. They were waiving North Korea`s flags in the rink. Whenever North Korean players got hold of the puck, they hallooed. They shouted out of joy when a goal was made by a North Koran player.

Vice commissioner Kim Hee-gyun of the branch in Aomori Fracture delighted, "Glad to see our fellow players having the opening game. I wish they should prove themselves to the whole Asia." Kwon sung-chul from the same fracture said, "I do hope they can demonstrate the power of Koreans by winning the opening game."

Women`s ice hockey is the field that gives a most promising hope to North Korea in the Winter Asian Games. Accordingly, North has hinged a lot of hope on its hockey team. To live up to the expectations, the players did whatever they could. When the defense line was breached, players threw themselves to block the puck and check the opponents. A Japanese citizen who watched the game said in awe, "North Korean girls are more like men. They played tough."

The North Korean team has marked its status in the world. For example, in the World Championship held last April in Netherlands, North Korea toppled all opponents in Division I. Taking on Kazakhstan, which is one of the most promising hopefuls for the championship in the Asian Games, North Korea showed an excellent performance, although it lost the game to Kazakhstan 2-3. Again in this game, however, North Korea let the world realize how strong its team is.

Shin Seung-han, the South Korean coach of its national hockey team, said after the game, "North Korean players are like male counterparts in body-checking and stick-working. They are stronger than I thought."

Jong-Koo Yang yjongk@donga.com