North Korea took on the world at hockey on Friday in Pyongyang.
But it was a friendly encounter, between a mixed group of Canadian and other foreign skaters from the U.S., Germany, and Finland, and North Korean professional players.
The sporting encounter had been planned for months, and went ahead in spite of a spike in tension on the Korean peninsula since the start of this year.
The first two quarters of Friday’s game pitted the foreign team against the North Koreans, resulting in a draw 5-5.
The second two quarters were mixed – foreigners playing together with North Koreans, divided into “red” and “blue” teams – with the red team winning 3-2.
As well as a series of three games, the foreign players took part in joint training sessions with North Koreans.
The trip has been organized by Paektu Cultural Exchange, run by Canadian Michael Spavor who gained fame after he met North Korean leader Kim Jong Un together with Dennis Rodman in 2013.
Canada has diplomatic relations with North Korea, but does not maintain an embassy presence in Pyongyang.
Canadian citizen Hyeon Soo Lim is currently serving a life sentence in North Korea. Lim was brought to court in Pyongyang last December and convicted of crimes against the state.
Trip organizer Spavor said in a statement in January that he was aware of Lim’s case, but that it would be “inappropriate…to get involved or comment on these serious consular issues” and that “the DPRK remains a safe place to travel.”
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