N. Korea Cheering Squad Returns after Two-Day Boycott

“Pleased to see you, brothers and sisters.” The North Korean cheering team is up and running again, stealing the spotlight. The cheering squad comprising young N. Korean women had stayed at the Daegu Bank Training Center for the last two days in a gesture of protestation against anti-Pyongyang demonstration.

Some 150 cheerleaders were at Keimyung College Gymnasium in the morning of Aug. 28 to root for North Korean Judokas. Their last appearance was at Duryu Swimming Pool on Aug. 25.

After taking seats at the gymnasium, they began to sing `Spring at Hometown` and `Pleased to Meet You`, a North Korean pop song that became a big hit in the South during the Busan Asiade in October last year, to the beat of the band.

Their performance was followed by clapping and greeting, and North and South Korean supporters made united cheering sound.

The cheering squad shouted `Fighting, Choi Ok-ja`, calling out the name of North Korean female Judoka, as she struggled in a match with Lin Ging of China. Later, they jumped at joy when Choi overturned the game at the last minute.

They made such loud voice that referees at the Federation of International Sports of Universities (FISU) had to stop the game as players had difficulties hearing the calls.

“I felt like rooting for our family and I really had good time,” said 36-year-old housewife Park Mi-ok, who visited the gymnasium with her two young daughters. “North Korean cheerleaders looked somewhat rigid, but it was good to see South and North Koreans root for Korean players together.”

In the afternoon, the whole cheering team attended the women`s football match between North Korea and Taiwan in Daegu Municipal Stadium.