North Korea has announced it will not send a cheering squad to the Incheon Asian Games.
 
Son Kwang-Ho, vice-president of North Korea's National Olympic Committee, appeared on the state-run Korean Central Television on Thursday night and announced the decision.
 
Son said the North was planning to send a large-scale cheering squad to the sports event in a bid to improve inter-Korean ties and promote national unity, but working-level talks on logistics for the squad collapsed after the South raised issue with its size and related costs.
 
Son added the North’s delegation conveyed the decision to the South’s organizing committee and authorities at the draw ceremony for the Games last Wednesday.
 
The South's organizing committee confirmed that the North had made the suggestion last Wednesday. The committee added that it wanted to confirm the North's official stance before making that information public.