[AG/english]Smile Cheering by Girls of North Korea

After 280 supporters of North Korea arrived at Busan Dadaepo harbor by Mankyeongbong-92 in the morning on September 28 for Busan Asian Game, they started their cheering for the North Korea Team.

It was the first time that North Korean came to South Korea taking a passenger ship. There were total 357 supporters including press corps and crew.

They looked tired and exhausted owing to 19 hours voyage, but didn’t lose the bright smile. They started their cheering duty in the soccer game of North Korea to Hong Kong in Changwon Stadium.

Supporters of North Korea took a bus to go to the stadium. They opened the window and said ‘Thank you, Nice to meet you’ to people. They said “We are very happy for passionate greeting. Let’s do our best for unification.”

Arrived in Changwon Stadium, supporters started to cheer their team and it attracted a lot of attention of customers. The supporters of North Korea are composed of girls. They are divided into general supporters, performance team and dancing team. General supporters cheered with simple rhythmic movement by waving an artificial flag and flowers. They showed their unique bright smile and ordered movement.

The performance team played in blue uniform and hat. Three conductors attracted a lot of attention. Their performance was certainly striking.

The supporters cheered the basketball game of North Korea- United Arab Emirates on September 29, and remaining people participated in the opening ceremony in Busan Asiad Main Stadium.

Besides, supporters of North Korea will have a performance in a square in front of Busan Exhibition Convention Center (BEXCO) and the Asian Week Square in Olympic part as well as the cheering. Also, they will tour Dongbaeksa, Beomusa and Kyeongju and inspecting Samsung Motorcar and Hyundai Motorcar, and then will participate in the invitation dinner on October 11.

They will return to North Korea after having a farewell event in Dadaepo harbor on October 15.

Jong-Koo Yang yjongk@donga.com