Communist-controlled North Korea (Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea) has reportedly asked South Korea (Republic of Korea) to help its people watch the 2006 FIFA World Cup. With no broadcast access to the World Cup, which starts on 9 June, Pyongyang has asked Seoul to make it possible for North Koreans to watch key matches of the football tournament. North Korea made similar requests to the South for the 2004 Athens Olympics and the 2005 East Asia football match. South Korea's broadcast representative Korea Pool paid US$25 million to FIFA for the broadcasting rights but will seek the cooperation of the Korea Football Association as well as FIFA to supply the North as requested, Arang News reported.
See also: North Korea agrees to Seoul-Pyongyang friendlies (25 May)