Inter-Korean Soccer

[Anchor Lead]

Young soccer players from South and North Korea will play each other in a match this month. Attention is being paid to whether the soccer match will help thaw inter-Korean relations that have soured over the North's recent missile and nuclear provocations. Up next, we bring you the story of the young soccer players who are training diligently ahead of the inter-Korean match.

[Pkg]

With strong kicks, the ball continuously lands in the net. The players are just 15 years old. But their footwork is as skilled as that of adult players. This is the South Korean national youth team that will face off with North Korea at the third Ari Sport Cup International Under-15 Soccer Championship.

[Soundbite] Ahn Tae-young(Soccer Player) : "We will play fair. Preventing injuries is the most important. So we will do our best to win without sustaining injuries."

The Ari Cup Championship was launched by both South and North Korean soccer figures with the aim to help establish peace on the Korean Peninsula through sports. The championship was held in Pyeongyang in 2015 despite the North's land mine provocation. The endeavor and passion of South and North Korean youths were introduced around the world. This year's match, which is being held again after a two-year hiatus, is expected to serve as an occasion to help restart inter-Korean dialogue.

[Soundbite] Kim Kyung-sung(Chairman, Inter-Korean Sports Exchange Association) : "The soccer match is the first exchange to be made between the two Koreas since the new government took office. These sports exchanges will eventually play an important role in easing military tension."

Anticipation is growing that the two Koreas will be able to discuss North Korea's participation in next year's PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games at the soccer match.