KBS World Radio 17th Asian Games INCHEON 2014

North Korea announced it will send a cheering squad to the Incheon Asian Games this fall. In response, the South Korean government said it will accept the squad.

On Monday, the North made the announcement about sending a cheering squad to the Asian Games in a “statement of the Government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.”

The statement said Pyongyang’s decision is a bid to improve inter-Korean relations and create an amicable atmosphere.

Later that day, Unification Ministry spokesman Kim Eui-do told reporters in a regular briefing that the government will provide necessary assistance to the North's athletes and cheering squad in line with international practices.

Throughout history, North Korea has sent cheering squads to international sporting events hosted in South Korea a total of three times.

The North announced in May that it would send athletes to compete in the Asian Games set to open in South Korea's port city of Incheon in September.

The Incheon Asian Games will be held from September 14 to October 4. Some 13-thousand athletes and officials from 45 nations will take part. Thirty-six sports will be in the competition including eight non-Olympic sports.

Incheon's slogan for the games is "Diversity Shines Here." The city also aims to host the games relying on advanced information technology and in a carbon neutral, economic and efficient way.

Meanwhile, North Korea has been steadily attending the Asian Games since 1998. In the 2002 games held in South Korea's Busan, it finished at 9th, winning 9 gold medals.

The North's decision to send a cheering squad is believed to be politically motivated.

The "statement of the government" in which the announcement was made is the highest ranking statement issued by the North.

The statement also included a four-point demand for Seoul to change its hostile policies against the North and lift sanctions. Though the calls are nothing new, they reflect the North's intent to improve cross-border relations.

South Korea has responded by urging the North to swiftly come out to the dialogue table.

In the past, the North sending a cheering squad helped to break the stalemate in inter-Korean dialogue. It remains to be seen if this will be the case this time.