Universiade Leaders Await Answer from North Korea

(ATR)Leaders in Gwangju are still hopeful North Korea willparticipate in next month's Summer Universiade.

"With an open mind, we will wait until the last minute for North Korea to participate," Gwangju mayor and Gwangju 2015 chairman Yoon Jang Hyuntells AFP.

An official representingtheInternational University Sports Federation (FISU)echoed the mayor's sentiments.

"We don't regard the email as North Korea's final decision because FISUhas yet to receive the same email from Pyongyang.

"We are trying to persuade North Korea through the international body and still hope it will send athletes to Gwangju."

In an email sent to the Gwangju 2015 organizing committee last week, North Korean leaders said the country was pulling out of the event in protest of the opening of a United Nations office in Seoul.

The newly-opened UN office is monitoring Pyongyang's human rights record.

North Korea had planned to send around 75 athletes and 33 officials to the Universiade.

One committee official told AFP,"North Korea's email cited political reasons such as the opening of the UN office in Seoul this week and high cross-border tensions."

The UN proposed the opening of the Seoul office following a blistering report on human rights violations in North Korea published by a UN commission last year.

North Korea boycotted the 1986 Asian Games and the 1988 Summer Olympics, both held in South Korea, but has since attended several other events in the country, including the 2014 Incheon Asian Games.

The Universiade, held every two years, is an international multi-sport event for university athletes and serves as a stage for future Olympians.

Over 13,000 athletes and officials from 145 countries are expected to join in this year's Summer Universiade, slated for July 3-14.

Written byNicole Bennett

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