By Yi Whan-woo



North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has stressed that Pyongyang's participation in the Incheon Asian Games in September will be crucial for improving inter-Korea relations, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported, Sunday.



According to the KNCA, Pyongyang's state-controlled media, Kim underscored that a sporting event should not be exploited for political interests. His remarks came after North Korea accused South Korea of being responsible for failing to reach an agreement in their talks last week over the quadrennial games that will run from Sept. 19 until Oct. 4.



"The participation of our athletes in the Asian Games will be a chance to improve inter-Korea relations and resolve distrust between the two countries," Kim was quoted as saying by the KNCA.



"Our athletes should show their spirit of sportsmanship and contribute to promoting friendship and peace with other countries.



"By doing so, we will firmly pursue our principle that a sporting event should remain sacred and not be exploited for political purposes," he added.



On Saturday, the KNCA reported a statement unveiled by the North Korean delegation that its southern counterpart deliberately provoked a quarrel during their working-level talks at Panmunjeom, Wednesday.



Secretary General Kwon Kyung-sang of the 2014 Incheon Asian Games Organizing Committee headed the three-member Seoul delegates while Son Kwang-ho, vice chairman of Pyongyang's National Olympic Committee, led his group.



The two sides discussed a wide range of issues at the inter-Korean border village, including the number of athletes and cheerleaders, costs and means of transportation.



North Korea proposed to send 350 athletes by airplane and 350 cheerleaders by train through the railroad that connects the two Koreas.



According to the KNCA, the South Korean delegation turned down every proposal made by its Pyongyang counterparts.



"They provoked a quarrel whenever we made suggestions, saying they need to wait for instructions from Cheong Wa Dae.



"They complained that we're trying to send too many athletes and cheerleaders. They also criticized us for planning to unveil our national flag as well as a flag that is designed to symbolize unification of the two Koreas at the stadiums."



"They stressed we should bear all the expenses to bring in our sports team and cheerleading squad as if we were not capable of covering such costs. We consider it slander."



The South Korean delegation said Wednesday the North Koreans were displeased when it began to ask detailed questions to finalize the plan.



The meeting on sports was the first since February 2008 when the two sides discussed forming a joint cheerleading contingent for the Beijing Olympics.



It will also be the first time since 2005 that Pyongyang will have dispatched cheerleaders to an international sporting event hosted by South Korea.



The secretive state has adopted an ambiguous approach to inter-Korean issues _ test-firing missiles into the East Sea on the one hand and making peace gestures on the other.



