(ATR) The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has reappointed an old sports minister in an attempt to prepare the country for the 2016 Olympics.
Ri Jong-mu last served as sports minister from October 2012 to May 2014 before the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea. KCNA, the country’s state news agency, reported his reappointment. Ri is a lieutenant general in the DPRK military.
"North Korea seems to have called Ri back ahead of the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in a bid to strengthen sports diplomacy," Yang Moo-ji, a professor at the University of DPRK studies, said to Yonhap.
North Korea won six medals at the London 2012 Olympics and 35 medals at the 2014 Asian Games. The most Olympic medals the country received were nine at the 1992 Games in Barcelona.
In addition to the ministry shakeup, the country signed a trade protocol with Cuba to share technology and knowledge, according to a report from Xinhua. Signed on Jan. 29, one of the provisions of the trade agreement is to share sporting knowledge.
Written by Aaron Bauer in Rio de Janeiro
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