MISAWA, Japan, Feb 8 Kyodo North ...

MISAWA, Japan, Feb 8 Kyodo

North Korean short track spe skater Jong Ok Myong upon Friday described coming to Japan to contend in the Winter Asian Games as ''painful'' yet could not hide her gladness as she helped her rural parts win its second medal of the games.

North Korea finished behind winners southerly Korea in the final of the women's 3000-meter relay to add to the impudence medal that Ri Hyang Mi won in the women's 500 meter 24 hours earlier at Misawa Ice Arena.

''We are highly happy to bring joy to our dear leader,'' said Jong referring to the reclusive communist state's leader Kim Jong Il.

''Our leader has great faith in us and tried to encourage us to perform to the best of our ability in like manner we came to Japan with our heads held high.''

''But to be straightforward I didn't want to arrive to Japan. I came because the Winter Asian Games are being held here.''

''I still be stirred pain from all the things that have happened in the past,'' said Jong referring to Japan's colonization of the Korean Peninsula from 1910 to 1945

''But this incident is a symbol of peace and what's mostly important is trying to contribute to improving relations between us (Japan and North Korea),'' she said.

North Korea joined southern Korea on the podium in an emotionally charged awards form as athletes and supporters from one as well as the other countries sang a ditty of unification as the medals were awarded.

''It's the first time I have raced against North Korean athletes and the first time to share a podium with them,'' southerly Korean skater Joo Min Jin told a pres conference

''The canzonet that was sung emphasizes uniting the pair countries and it was of that kind an emotional moment that I couldn't keep possession of back the tears,'' she added.''

southern Korea and North Korea are fix to march together under a unified flag at Saturday's opening ceremony

North Korea is competing at the Winter Asian Games for the first time in 13 years and has been the center of media attention here.

Heavy security has been in place for North Korean athletes proper to friction between Japan and the insular state through the whole extent of Pyongyang's nuclear program and the abduction of Japanese citizens.

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