North Korean reporters angered by criticism of their leader attacked human rights activists today at the World University Games in South Korea, triggering a brawl at an event aimed at promoting reconciliation between the two countries.
The North threatened to withdraw from the competition after the melee, setting back hopes that the games would symbolize inter-Korean solidarity ahead of a crucial summit in Beijing starting Wednesday.
The fight, which lasted about 10 minutes, erupted as the reporters from the North's state-run media tried to seize banners critical of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il from about 20 protesters outside the stadium.
"Down with Kim Jong Il. Rescue our Northern brethren," one banner read. Protesters also held pictures of starving North Korean children lying in hospital beds.
The incident highlighted tense relations between the Koreas that have escalated over the suspected development of North Korea's nuclear arsenal.
North Korean team chief Jun Kuk Man later vowed to pull his delegation from the games unless the South Korean government apologized and guaranteed it would prevent a recurrence.
"We cannot but reconsider our participation if ... protest continues under the protection of hundreds of policemen like this," Jun told reporters.
More than 100 South Korean riot police were at the scene and helped break up the scuffle. Dozens of uniformed and plain-clothed officers also swarmed in as the skirmish moved from the sidewalk toward the University Games main media center.