South Korea ‘disappointed’ as North withdraws from FIFA World Cup qualifiers

ANKARA (AA) - South Korea on Monday expressed disappointment over North Korea’s decision to pull out from the Asian qualifiers for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, local media reported.

Both Koreas are in Group H in the Preliminary Round 2 of Asian qualifiers. South Korea is scheduled to host qualifying matches from June 3-15 in the city of Goyang.

"We find North Korea's decision to be disappointing," Yonhap News Agency quoted South Korea’s Unification Ministry spokeswoman Lee Jong-joo as saying.

"The unification ministry has maintained the stance that it is desirable to use the World Cup and other international games as an opportunity for inter-Korean exchange in sports," Lee added.

However, Lee hoped that her country will continue efforts to seek other opportunities to make progress in inter-Korean cooperation.

On Sunday, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) confirmed the withdrawal of North Korea from the Asian qualifiers for the 2022 Qatar World Cup.

The two Koreas have not seen any tangible reconciliation efforts in the recent past as relations have been marred by a trust deficit, with Pyongyang accusing Seoul of bowing to Washington.

There has also been a breakdown of negotiations over the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula between North Korea and the US, despite former President Donald Trump holding two meetings with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid