Headline PH: N. Korea bans media on their practice session

TEMBISA, South Africa (AFP) – North Korea on Monday banned reporters from watching a training session and speaking to players, deepening the sense of mystery swirling around the squad from the isolated nation.

Media gathered outside the Makhulong stadium outside Johannesburg to watch training and to interview members of the squad but police at the ground kept the gates locked and said the scheduled events had been cancelled.

Amid confusion, reporters were later allowed in through the green gates before the early evening session got under way.

But they were ushered out of the ground after the arrival of the red North Korean bus, sponsored by South Korea's Hyundai conglomerate and celebrating the team's achievements in their only previous World Cup appearance with the slogan "1966 again! Victory for DPR of Korea!"

An updated notice on the website of the game's governing body FIFA said: "Korea DPR (North Korea) has CLOSED the scheduled training session. There are no current media activities planned for today."

Police inspector Peter van der Merwe told reporters to leave the stadium after the team bus arrived and tried to prevent photographs being taken.

"It's going to be a very closed training session so please leave the stadium," he said.

Police said reporters would be allowed in to watch training on Tuesday.

While other teams have welcomed locals to watch them go through their paces, North Korea's training sessions have all been behind closed doors.

by John Weaver
AFP

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