Daegu Mayor Cho Hae-nyoung said Thursday North Korea is expected to send more reporters than initially anticipated to cover the Daegu Summer Universiade.

Cho told reporters that North Korea has yet to send in its entry forms to the Universiade Organizing Committee, but has notified officials that it will send 24 journalists instead of the previously-cited 19.

Cho said the North Korean delegation will subsequently increase from 530 to 535 members.

The southeastern city of Daegu will host the Universiade, an international sporting competition for university students, from Aug. 21st to 31st, and has played up North Korea's participation in an attempt to attract wider attention for the event.

Meanwhile, President Roh Moo-hyun congratulated the launching of the supporters group for the Universiade Wednesday, saying that the games will be an opportunity for South Korea to show the world its will to boost regional peace and prosperity.