DPRK to send 262-member team to Incheon Asian Games

SEOUL - The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) will send a 262-member delegation to the 2014 Incheon Asian Games in six flights from DPRK airlines, the Incheon Asian Games Organizing Committee(IAGOC) said in a press release on Wednesday.

The DPRK sent a letter through Vice-President Sohn Kwang-Ho of its Olympic Committee to Secretary General Kwon Kyeong-Sang of IAGOC via Panmunjeom on Tuesday, said the press release.

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The letter showed that the DPRK would send 262 members of its sports teams in TU-204 and AN-148 planes via the west sea route between Incheon and Pyongyang.

This year's DPRK delegation would be smaller than a 362-member delegation sent to the 2002 Asian Games held in the southern port city of Busan of the Republic of Korea (ROK).

The first 94-member team, including men and women's football teams and officials, will leave the DPRK for South Korea on Sept 11. The other teams will follow in three groups until Sept 28.

The DPRK's Olympic Committee will take all members of the delegation back to Pyongyang on Sept 28 and Oct 5 in two flights.

Besides, 10 people, including athletes, reporters, officials of the pro-Pyongyang federation of Korean residents in Japan, will arrive in Incheon from Japan and Park Kwang-Ryong of FC Basel in Switzerland will travel directly to Incheon from Switzerland.

South Korea also planned to cover "proper" costs for the DPRK' s delegation to be sent to participate in the upcoming Incheong Asian Games, local media reported on Tuesday.

The 17th Asian Games will be held in ROK's western port city of Incheon from Sept 19 to Oct 4.