Japan will allow the national female soccer team from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) to take part in the East Asian championship scheduled for next month in Tokyo.
''We have agreed [to the entry] because it will be for a sport,'' Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano was quoted by Kyodo News as saying on Jan. 5. The entry had already been decided in July under the previous administration, he added.
''This is good news. Being allowed to have a top level women's team in the world compete will generate interest in the tournament,'' said Japan Football Association general secretary Kozo Tashima.
Meanwhile, Justice Minister Keiko Chiba said while DPRK government officials will continue to be denied entry into Japan under the sanctions on Pyongyang Japan continues proper evaluation on whether visa issuance can be allowed for other Koreans.
Japan's ban on almost all visits by the DPRK was set in place as part of its sanctions imposed after the DPRK's nuclear test in 2006./.
''We have agreed [to the entry] because it will be for a sport,'' Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano was quoted by Kyodo News as saying on Jan. 5. The entry had already been decided in July under the previous administration, he added.
''This is good news. Being allowed to have a top level women's team in the world compete will generate interest in the tournament,'' said Japan Football Association general secretary Kozo Tashima.
Meanwhile, Justice Minister Keiko Chiba said while DPRK government officials will continue to be denied entry into Japan under the sanctions on Pyongyang Japan continues proper evaluation on whether visa issuance can be allowed for other Koreans.
Japan's ban on almost all visits by the DPRK was set in place as part of its sanctions imposed after the DPRK's nuclear test in 2006./.
