By James Pearson (L:PSON)
SEOUL, Jan 27 (Reuters) - A Canadian man behind a series of
trips to North Korea by basketball hall of famer Dennis Rodman
is organising an ice hockey tournament that may draw former
National Hockey League (NHL) players to the isolated country.
Announcement of the event comes days after North Korea said
it had detained U.S. university student Otto Warmbier, 21, for
what state media described as a "hostile act".
The tournament, scheduled for March 7-11 in the capital,
Pyongyang, will raise money for sporting equipment for disabled
North Korean athletes, said Michael Spavor, who runs the Paektu
Cultural Exchange, which promotes engagement with North Korea.
He said some former NHL players had expressed interest in
participating but declined to identify them. Some Canadians were
among the non-professionals who would take part, said Spavor,
who is based in China.
Relations between North Korea and Canada have been strained
since the North last year arrested and sentenced a South
Korean-born Canadian pastor to life for subversion.
Heavily sanctioned North Korea drew condemnation for its
fourth nuclear test on Jan. 6 and will likely face more
sanctions from the United Nations in response.
It is unclear if those sanctions would affect tourism or
cultural and sporting exchanges.
"While Pastor Lim's and Mr Warmbier's situations are
regrettable, it would be inappropriate for me to get involved or
comment on these serious consular issues which need to be dealt
with officially between governments," Spavor told Reuters.
The Canadian and U.S. governments both advise against travel
to the country.
"Travel to the DPRK does involve certain sensitivities and
we provide a thorough safety briefing addressing local rules
before entering the country," he said, referring to the North by
the initials of its official name, Democratic People's Republic
of Korea.
It has hosted several high-profile sporting events in the
past.
In 2014, Japanese lawmaker and former pro-wrestler Antonio
Inoki organised a wrestling extravaganza in Pyongyang, a year
after Rodman stayed with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at his
villa before an exhibition basketball game.
North Korea also holds a marathon that is open to
foreigners.
"The seed was planted for this hockey exchange in 2005 when
I saw my first DPRK hockey game while living in Pyongyang,"
Spavor said in a release.
"A Canadian friend and I thought that this would be a great
way to build stronger relationships between Canada and the
DPRK."
The event will include training and matches between
expatriate teams and an exhibition match against the North
Korean men's national team, Spavor said.
(Editing by Tony Munroe and Robert Birsel)