A United Nations' educational event called the Youth Leadership Program opened in Gwangju City Thursday.

The program is co-hosted by the 2015 Gwangju Universiade Organizing Committee and the UN Office on Sport for Development and Peace. 

Thirty-four youths from 19 Asian countries including three North Koreans are taking part. 

The host agencies held an opening ceremony and orientation of the Youth Leadership Program at Honam University in the morning and kicked off its 13-day run.

The opening ceremony was hosted by Wilfried Lemke, head of the UN office and UN Special Adviser on Sport for Development and Peace and organized by the Canadian nongovernmental organization "Right to Play." Program participants and ten invited guests attended the ceremony.

Speaking at the ceremony, Gwangju Mayor Kang Un-tae noted the attendance of North Korean students and stressed the power of sports that can unify spirits and tear down walls. He said he believes the North Korean youths will become future leaders who will usher in peace and hoped they would take away lessons offered by the program and Gwangju, the city of peace and human rights. 

The Youth Leadership Program is aimed at fostering youths from developing or war-stricken countries into young leaders. The program provides theoretical and practical training on sports, peace, education, and people with disabilities.