South Korea plans to increase soccer exchanges with World Cup co-host Japan and China to raise the level of soccer in Asia. An official at the Ministry of Culture and Tourism said the three Asian soccer powers can upgrade soccer skills by promoting more competitive matches at club or national levels. President Kim Dae-jung suggested during a Cabinet meeting earlier this week that North Korea could also be invited to join. Earlier this month, Peter Velappan, general secretary of the Asian Football Confederation, also proposed the formation of a joint league among the three countries to advance soccer in the region. He said the success of the Two-thousand-two World Cup should ensure five berths for Asia at the next World Cup in Germany.