Three North Korean youths have submitted requests to take part in a United Nations program slated to start in the southern city of Gwangju, the local organizer of the event said Friday.
The United Nations Office Sport for Development and Peace received notification that the three youths and one leader of the small group expressed a desire to take part in the Youth Leadership Programme, the 2015 Gwangju Universiade Organizing Committee said.
The gathering that aims to educate youths in such fields as health, education, disability, gender equality and peace will take place from next Thursday and run through Sept. 3, with the city located 329 kilometers south of Seoul to host the annual gathering for the next three years.
The committee said the request for the visit will be submitted to the Ministry of Unification that controls all inter-Korean exchanges within the day.
“We expect the ministry to approve the visit,” an official at the organizing committee said.
Following the sinking of one of its warships in 2010, Seoul has restricted most inter-Korean personal exchange but has not objected to exchanges carried out by an international organization.
Besides the North Koreans, about 30 people from other Asian countries are to be present for the event to be held at Honam University. (Yonhap News)
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