Inter-Korean Basketball

[Anchor Lead]

South and North Korean basketball players came together on the court for the first inter-Korean games in 15 years. This round of basketball diplomacy has been described as the reunification games by North Korean media and thousands of Pyongyang residents are turning up to cheer. Here’s more.

[Pkg]

South and North Korean players enter a basketball court hand in hand. They are greeted with a roar of applause from spectators who filled a 12,000-seat stand. The audience enthusiastically cheered for players throughout the match, waving balloons. South Korea's head coach Hur Jae appeared to feel touched especially, since he participated in an inter-Korean basketball match as a player 15 years ago.

[Soundbite] Hur Jae (South Korea's Head Coach): "I felt proud and fulfilled. They get along with North Korean players better than expected. Today's matches will be remembered for a lifetime."

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un did not show up at the court until the day's matches--both men's and women's--were all over. Instead, senior North Korean officials turned up, including National Sports Guidance Committee Chairman Choe Hwi and Ri Son-gwon, chairman of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Country as well as Sports Minister Kim Il-guk. Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon, who led the South Korean delegation, stressed that the two Koreas united through basketball.

[Soundbite] Cho Myoung-gyon (Unification Minister): "These inter-Korean basketball matches, which are held in line with the two leaders' agreement, will significantly contribute to expanding and developing sports exchanges across the border and national reconciliation and unity."

South and North Korea played remaining matches both in men's and women's categories on Thursday, the last day of the cross-border sports event.