◀ Anchor ▶
North Korea, which recorded and broadcast almost all matches of the World Cup but did not show only our matches, yesterday broadcast our national team’s round of 16 match.
While introducing Son Heung-min as the captain of South Korea, he even gave a relatively neutral analysis of the game.
It is very unusual, and some analyze that there is an unwelcome intention.
This is reporter Um Ji-in’s report.
◀ Report ▶
[조선중앙TV(어젯밤)]
“We will send you the round of 16 match between the Brazilian team and the South Korean team.”
Korea’s World Cup round of 16 was recorded and broadcast on the first day of the match.
Although the Taegeukgi and the ‘Red Devils’ cheering match were not shown in detail, North Korea sent the first half of the 90-minute game almost without editing.
Introducing the careers of our players such as Son Heung-min,
[조선중앙TV]
“(Son Heung-min) is the team captain. He is 30 years old and 183 cm tall. He plays for Tottenham Hotspur.”
Match analysis was also included in detail.
[조선중앙TV]
“The South Korean team is launching a series of attacks, but they are unable to achieve their goal because they run into the defense of the Brazilian team.”
Baek Seung-ho’s goal was repeatedly shown on a slow screen.
[조선중앙TV]
“Yes, it’s a goal.”
It is unusual compared to the fact that during the group stage, only Korean matches were not broadcasted and the Korean team name itself was not mentioned.
[조선중앙TV(지난달 25일, 포루투갈-가나 전)]
“In Group 8, in addition to the two teams in the match, there are Uruguay and ‘one team’ (Korea).”
The 2002, 2006 and 2010 World Cups have been recorded and broadcast, but this is the first time North Korea has shown South Korea’s World Cup matches since the Kim Jong-un regime.
There is an analysis that there is an intention in North Korea’s decision to choose the Brazil match for the first time in the midst of hostile inter-Korean relations.
[홍민/통일연구원 북한연구실장]
“By showing the game (South Korea) suffered a crushing defeat, the government now induces perceptions related to South Korea in its own way… (North Korea’s sports broadcasting) has always thoroughly added such political calculations…
North Korea, which gave up the game during the World Cup regional qualifiers due to COVID-19 quarantine, is broadcasting with free support from the broadcasting rights transferred to the International Football Federation by three terrestrial broadcasters, including MBC.
This is MBC News Umjiin.
Video editing: Kim Jae-seok
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