Delegation of N. Korean Suddenly Cancels Trip

A 218 North Korean delegation to the 2003 Summer Universiade in Daegu(August 21 ~23) scheduled to arrive at Gimhae Airport yesterday morning cancelled flights giving no details when they will arrive in South Korea.

“We received a notice from the North, saying the two Air Koryo passenger jets that were scheduled to depart Sunan Airport at 8 a.m. were cancelled of technical failings at 7:50 a.m.,” said the Daegu Universiade organizing committee and the Gimpo Airport joint Exit and Entry countermeasure team yesterday.

The North, however, neither gave detailed causes of the cancellation nor mentioned when they would send the delegation.

The delegation of North Korea, including Jeon Geuk-man, the head of the delegation, and Jang Ung, an IOC committee member, were originally to go to Daegu right after arriving at Gimhae Airport at 10:10 am and 10:20 am, respectively, by two Air Koryo passenger jets.

Because of the delay, all the welcoming events scheduled to take place in the athletes` village of the Daegu Universiade were cancelled.

According to the original plan, 303 cheerleaders are to arrive at Gimhae Airport today through the same route.

The government and Daegu organizing committee tried to get in contact with the North through the North Korean contact persons of the Panmunjom, a truce village, but were sill not being able to contact the North until yesterday afternoon.

Considering the fact that the North has showed its strong willingness to participate the Daegu Universiade, even notifying it would take out its 6 names from its list of 94 athletes, 92 officials and 11 referees.

“It’s been confirmed that the North’s delegation arrived at Sunan Airport in Pyeongyang. The delay is likely caused by defects of one airplane. I believe the delegation will participate the game for sure,” Park Sang-ha, executive chairman of the organizing committee said.

Jong-Seok Kim kjs0123@donga.com