N. Korean youths attend U.N. event in Gwangju

GWANGJU, Aug. 22 (Yonhap) -- A group of three young North Koreans attended a United Nations' educational event that opened in the southern South Korean city of Gwangju on Thursday.

"We're here to attend a U.N.-organized event," a member of the group told reporters after attending the opening ceremony of the Youth Leadership Program (YLP) at Honam University. "We want to learn a lot," the North Korean man who appears to be in his early 20s added.

The group, comprised of two males and one female, arrived in South Korea along with an adult guide, on Wednesday to attend the event co-hosted by the 2015 Gwangju Universiade Organizing Committee and the U.N. Office on Sport for Development and Peace (UNOSDP).

The YLP aims to educate adolescents from war-stricken countries or developing regions in such fields as health, education, disability, gender equality and peace. It first took place in Doha in January last year, and the Gwangju city will host the gathering annually from this year to 2015.

This year's event is expected to bring some 34 young people from 19 Asian countries, including the three from Pyongyang to Gwangju, 330 kilometers south of Seoul, until Sept. 3.

For sports programs, participants will learn various genres of sports from professional coaches from the International Sports Federation.

The North Koreans' visit comes amid signs of a thaw in relations between the two Koreas after months of high tensions earlier this year. Last week, the two sides reached a breakthrough deal to reopen a joint industrial complex. They are also scheduled to hold talks this week on setting up family reunions.

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