The South Korean government says that it will welcome a cheering squad from North Korea if it comes for this year’s Gwangju Summer Universiade.
 
A Unification Ministry official told reporters Thursday that the decision to send a cheering squad is up to the participating country. He added that Seoul will allow in North Korean cheerleaders based on international practices and precedents.
 
The official, however, reaffirmed the government’s stance that it is inappropriate to form a unified inter-Korean team for the games, given public sentiments and the current icy cross-border ties.
 
Answering a question about a proposal to begin the Universiade torch relay from Mount Baekdu at the North Korea-China border, the ministry official said that the government will make a decision after a review.