Warm welcome for Olympic torch in North Korea
The Olympic torch held its first-ever run today in North Korea, where the flame was assured of a trip free of the anti-Chinese protests that marked other legs of the relay.
An attentive and peaceful crowd of thousands watched the start of the relay in Pyongyang, some waving Chinese flags, in live footage from broadcaster APTN.
The event was presided over by the head of the country’s rubber-stamp parliament who often acts as a ceremonial state leader, Kim Yong Nam.
The North, an ally of communist neighbour China, has been critical of disruptions to the torch relay elsewhere and has supported Beijing in its crackdown against violent protests in Tibet.
Mr Kim passed the torch to the first runner Pak Doo Ik, who played for North Korea’s 1966 World Cup soccer team that made a historic run to the quarter-finals.
As he began the 12-mile route through Pyongyang, thousands more cheering people lined city streets waving pink paper flowers and small flags with the Beijing Olympics logo and chanting Welcome! Welcome!
The relay began from beneath the large sculpted flame that tops the obelisk of the Juche Tower, which commemorates the national ideology of “self-reliance” created by the country’s late founding President Kim Il Sung, father of current leader Kim Jong Il. The younger Mr Kim was not seen at the event.
“I, as the first torch runner, will keep the beautiful memory deep in my heart forever,” Mr Pak said.
