South willing to share the Cup wealth

If South Korea wins its bid to host the 2022 World Cup, it plans to offer North Korea the right to host a few games to help ease the tension between the two neighbors, bid chairman Han Sung-Joo said Wednesday.

“[Hosting the World Cup] will contribute greatly not only to the football game itself, but to the international situation in and around the Korean Peninsula,” Han told Reuters by telephone.

Tensions between the two countries spread even to football after the South beat the North 1-0 in the World Cup qualifiers last year. North Korea complained to the International Football Association that the South had poisoned its players before the game, allegations the South denied.

The reclusive nation did better this time around, and will play in its first World Cup finals in June.

Reuters