Koreas to begin consultation on North's participation in Asiad

SEOUL, Aug. 24 (Yonhap) -- South and North Korea are expected to start consultation this week on an array of pending issues related to the North's participation in the upcoming Asian Games to be held here, including who will foot the bill, a government official said Sunday.

North Korea notified Seoul on Friday that it will send a 273-member delegation, including 150 athletes, to the Asian Games to be held in the port city of Incheon, west of Seoul, from Sept. 19 to Oct. 4.

The North proposed that the details of its dispatch of the delegation be discussed through an exchange of letters, which was also accepted by Seoul.

"We plan to send documents containing our stance early this week as consultation could take time," the official said, asking not to be named.

Inter-Korean dialogue on the sports event has been stalled since July 17 when the North Korean delegation walked out of negotiations in apparent displeasure over Seoul's refusal to cover the cost of sending a team for the event.

The North called for Seoul to shoulder all the costs of its participation, but the South rejected the demand, citing international practice.

But Seoul may show flexibility on the issue of financial assistance, the official added.

"International practice is important, but inter-Korean relations should be also taken into account," the official said, hinting that the South may offer to pay some necessary costs.

sooyeon@yna.co.kr

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