South Korea is going to foot the bill for North Korea's participation in the PyeongChang Winter Olympics,... with funds set aside for inter-Korean cooperation.
Ji Myung-kil reports.
The South Korean government has approved a budget worth 2-point-6 million U.S. dollars to cover expenses incurred by the North Korean delegation sent to PyeongChang.
The South and North Exchange and Cooperation Promotion Council under South Korea's unification ministry, and headed by Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon, held a meeting on Wednesday to deliberate on a motion to use money from this year's inter-Korean cooperation fund.
Besides Olympic athletes and high-level officials, Pyongyang sent hundreds of North Koreans to South Korea, including cheerleaders, orchestra members and musicians, members of a taekwondo demonstration team, and journalists.
The South Korean government plans to hold another meeting concerning the participation of North Korea with a delegation of roughly 150 members, at the PyeongChang Paralympics to kick off in March.
During a high-level meeting early last month, the two Koreas agreed that Seoul will provide convenience for the North Koreans attending the Olympics.
This wouldn't be the first time for South Korea to bankroll the regime's participation at an international event, as Seoul previously bankrolled millions of dollars for North Korean participants during the Asian Games and the Summer Universiade held in South Korea.
Ji Myung-kil, Arirang News.
