South Korea’s World Taekwondo Federation President Choue Chungwon and the International Taekwondo Federation President Ri Yong Son of North Korea have agreed to set up a joint body next month to narrow their differences in governing the sport.

There were no specific details about how integration would take place. But the WTF and the ITF will work together and collaborate on overseas events, opening the door for North Korean taekwondo athletes to take part in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The International Olympic Committee recognises the South Korean body as the main organisation of world taekwondo.

The WTF has proposed that North Korea establish a WTF member association in Pyongyang. According to Choue “this will mean North Koreans can take part in international competitions including the Olympics.”

At present ITF practitioners, including North Koreans, can compete at the Olympics if they qualify under WTF rules. No North Koreans have taken part in the Summer Olympics in taekwondo.

North Korea’s Ri also welcomed the historic agreement between the two organisations. He said: “By signing the agreement we opened the doors for a bright future for one taekwondo. We will make sure that we execute what we have agreed to make tangible changes.”

This is the latest merger between the two Koreas in sports. A Unified team took part in three sports at the recent Asian Games in Jakarta and Palembang as well as in women’s ice hockey at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games in February.

Both countries revealed recently they would field a Unified team at the Men’s Handball World Championship in Germany and Denmark in January 2019. (Ocasia.org)