S. Korea beats N. Korea in women's hoops friendly

PYONGYANG/SEOUL, July 5 (Joint Press Corps-Yonhap) -- South Korea edged out North Korea 81-74 in a women's basketball friendly match in Pyongyang on Thursday, a contest whose intensity was in contrast to the generally genial atmosphere in the stands.

Guard Kim Han-byul led the balanced South Korean attack with 16 points at Ryugyong Chung Ju-yung Gymnasium, with the youngest member of the team, high school star Park Ji-hyun, chipping in 12 points.

For North Korea, center Ro Suk-yong scored a game-high 32 points and grabbed 10 boards while playing the entire 40 minutes. Forward Ri Jong-ok also played the full game and had 16 points.

The players donned blue (South Korea) and red (North Korea) uniforms that had no national flags or country names on them.

This was the second day of exhibition basketball games for the Koreas, who'd agreed on the occasion last month. On Wednesday, the teams swapped players for a mixed event, with a focus on bringing the players together.

On Thursday, though, there was a competitive edge.

South Korea started the game on a 9-0 run, and North Korea only got on the board about four minutes in with Ro's two free throws.

South Korea led 38-31 at halftime and was up 56-46 in third quarter before turnovers led to North Korean fastbreak opportunities.

Trailing 58-56 to start the final frame, Ri drained a three-pointer to key a North Korean rally for a 61-58 lead. For South Korea, Kim, Park Hye-jin and Choi Eun-sil all fouled out.

South Korea was also called for 10 traveling violations, but the team held on for the victory.

The Koreas have agreed to form a unified team at the Aug. 18-Sept. 2 Asian Games in Indonesia. South Korea, the defending Asian Games champion, is a vastly superior side, and the majority of the unified team should come from the South.

But since the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) has said it won't allow extra roster spots, some South Korean players who would otherwise have made the Asian Games team will have to cede their spots to North Korean players.

After Thursday's game, South Korean head coach Lee Moon-kyu said he kept a close eye on a few North Korean players.

"It's still early to get into specifics, because we haven't determined how the joint team will be assembled," Lee said.

jeeho@yna.co.kr
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