Japan to let N. Korean soccer team take part in Tokyo tournament+

TOKYO, Jan. 5 Kyodo -
Japan will allow the North Korean women's national soccer team to take part in
next month's East Asian championship in Tokyo in an exception to the country's
sanctions on Pyongyang, including a visa ban against citizens of the reclusive
nation, the top government spokesman said Tuesday.

''We have agreed (to the entry) because it will be for a sport,'' Chief Cabinet
Secretary Hirofumi Hirano said at a press conference, adding the entry was
already decided in July under the previous administration.
Japan Football Association general secretary Kozo Tashima welcomed the news,
saying, ''This is good news. Being allowed to have a top level women's team in
the world compete will generate interest in the tournament.''
In December, Hiroshi Nakai, chairman of the National Public Safety Commission
who concurrently serves as state minister for the North Korean abduction issue,
said he was ''obviously opposed'' to granting them entry as the sanctions are
in effect.
''I approved it as a special measure,'' Nakai said at a press conference after
meeting with Hirano. ''I checked (with Hirano) that this would not alleviate
the immigration restriction measure.''
Japan's ban on almost all visits by North Koreans has been in place as part of
its sanctions imposed after Pyongyang's nuclear test in 2006. The North
test-fired a ballistic missile over Japan and conducted its second nuclear test
last year.
Rules of soccer's world governing body FIFA require full independence of
national associations from political interference. A government move to ban a
foreign national team's entry is seen as risking suspension from FIFA.
''There is no point in talking now about what might have been a worst-case
scenario. We are grateful to the government,'' said Tashima.
Both the Japanese and North Korean men's national teams have qualified for this
summer's World Cup finals in South Africa.
On Tuesday, Justice Minister Keiko Chiba said while North Korean government
officials will continue to be denied entry into Japan under the sanctions,
Tokyo continues proper checks on whether visa issuance can be allowed for other
people.
==Kyodo
2010-01-05 21:44:38