Koreas jointly seek to host Asian Games

SEOUL, June 2 (UPI) -- South and North Korea have agreed to mount a joint bid to host the Asian Games in 2014, promoters said Thursday.

South Korea's major port city of Incheon will seek jointly with North Korea's capital of Pyognyang to host the event, Incheon City Mayor Ahn Sang-soo said after a visit to North Korea.

"We will submit an application for the joint hosting of the 2014 Asian Games to the Olympic Council of Asia by the end of the month," Ahn told reporters upon arriving in an airport. "We will launch a standing joint consultative body with North Korea to pursue joint bid activities."

The Korean joint bid will compete with India, Jordan and Vietnam to host the 2014 Asiad. The successful bidder will be decided at the OCA's general assembly in December 2006 in Doha, Qatar.

During his North Korea visit, Ahn also agreed on a set of reconciliation programs between the two cities, he said.