Broadcasting of North Korea football matches

Reading the letter by Lou Bondì, entitled 'A leaf from North Korea's Book', published on July 4, I was surprised at his comments.

Mr Bondì has every right to his views on N. Korea, but I suggest he check his facts first regarding the saga between South and N. Korea, about the rights for the broadcasting of the Brazil vs N. Korea football match.

Facts show the transmission of the Brazil vs N. Korea was broadcast later due to other reasons as stated by Mr Bondì. The reason the first game was not transmitted live, but 17 hours later, was due to the fact that legal rights are held only by S. Korea.

S. Korean authorities were insisting that even the later broadcasting of the Brazil vs N. Korea match was illegal. This dilemma between the two Korean states was stated beforehand by John Glionna, on the Los Angeles Times on May 13.

In fact, N. Korea's TV station legally obtained the rights later, after the start of the World Cup, by obtaining a deal with the Malaysia-based Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union. Other TV stations in East Timor, Kyrgyzstan, Laos and Uzbekistan, obtained the same rights as N. Korea, but terms were not disclosed.

In the 2006 World Cup, free satellite links to transmit the matches were given to N. Korea by S. Korean Authorities. At that time relations between the two Korean states were good.