Two Koreas clash in Pyeongyang for World Cup qualifier

2019-10-15 26

The historic World Cup qualifier between South and North Korea in Pyeongyang kicked off less than two hours ago.
In what's been dubbed as 'the blind away game' for the South with no live broadcast of the match,... the two Koreas' football teams are facing off for the first time in 29 years in the North's capital.
We have our Kan Hyeong-woo on the line with the latest.
Hyeong-woo, what are you hearing so far?
Da-eun, the score right now is with about 10 minutes left in the game.
but what's strange is that it's a World Cup qualifier with nobody in the stands.
According to Seoul's Korea Football Association, the two Koreas are competing in a Kim Il-sung Stadium that's basically empty.
The only people there are some officials from both sides and some FIFA personnel including FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
Some are calling it a blind away game,... while others have referred to it as as the world's strangest football derby.
Here's why.
For one, there's no live broadcast of the match.
Seoul's unification ministry and South Korea's major TV networks had been trying to communicate with the North about airing a live feed, but the talks fell apart with no response or cooperation from Pyeongyang.
Pyeongyang has also not allowed attendance by any South Korean fans, international media or even foreign tourists.
So the way we are getting any updates on the match is through the Korea Football Association's Twitter and the official website of the Asian Football Confederation.
The match appears to be a fierce battle...as North Korean defender Ri Yong-jik and midfielder Ri Un-chol and South Korean defenders Kim Young-kwon and Kim Min-jae each received a yellow card.
So we can see why some are calling it the world's strangest football derby.
But, is there a way for football fans to watch the match afterwards?
For those wanting to watch at least the highlights, this is how to do it.
North Korea has promised to give a DVD of the footage to South Korean officials after the game.
That's according an official at Seoul's unification ministry,... who also said South Korean fans should be able to watch it once some technical issues have been dealt with. Asked whether the DVD will contain the entire match,... the official said that's likely to be the case.
But we still don't know when it will be aired
South Korea's three major TV networks KBS, MBC and SBS are still negotiating with North Korea about the cost.
That's all from me for now.
But we will have the latest or hopefully the result of the match on our later newscast. Da-eun.

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