N Korea boycott a pity, say Japanese organisers

TOKYO, Sep 15 (Reuters) North Korea's decision to boycott the synchronised swimming World Cup in Japan was described as a 'great pity' by competition organisers today.

The North Korean delegation pulled out after Tokyo barred three team members from entering the country as part of sanctions imposed following Pyongyang's test-firing of missiles in July.

North Korea reacted angrily and the entire team refused to travel to Japan in protest at the Japanese government's hard-line stance.

''From the organisers' point of view it's obviously a great pity North Korea are not taking part,'' competition director Kiho Abe told Reuters.

''Their team submitted the same entry sheet as every other team.

They haven't broken any of the rules of (swimming's world governing body) FINA.'' He added: ''We received a list that included 10 names but nobody left North Korea.'' The three North Koreans were refused entry on suspicion of being linked to the government, according to an official from the pro-Pyongyang General Association of Korean Residents in Japan.

Among the barred trio was North Korea's team captain.

Ten swimmers and coaches had been given permission to travel by the Japanese authorities before the team's decision to boycott.

The backlash in North Korea's state-controlled media was swift with the country's swimming officials launching a fierce attack on Japan's motives.

''Japanese authorities... resort to any despicable and clumsy method for achieving their dirty political aims,'' the association was quoted as saying by North Korea's official KCNA news agency.

Abe expressed regret that the latest stand-off between the countries had prevented the North Korean team from participating in the World Cup currently taking part in Yokohama.

''We represent sport -- this is politics,'' he said. ''I can't comment on government issues. But we would have liked to have as many swimmers taking part as possible.

''It's extremely regrettable this happened.'' REUTERS DH KN1640