And Now For The Sports...

North Korea says no to 애국가 (South Korean National Anthem)

Alright, I admit that I have a natural bias toward most South Korean in South Korean/North Korean Disputes. Maybe it's because South Korea is an ally to the US or maybe it's because I lived there OR maybe it's because South Korea is usually, well... "right". I don't know.
But a recent decision by south Korean officials to petition FIFA (International Federation of Association Football which is the world's Football, errr... soccer governing body) in order to mandate that they (South Korea) be allowed to play their national anthem or raise their flag in a world cup qualifier game held in Pyongyang. South Korea's point is that it is a FIFA rule that all countries must play their national anthem prior to the start of each match. But how many countries play matches in other countries that they are currently at war with (Hot or cold war)? I can assure you that during the first Gulf War the US national soccer team would not have gone into Saddam Hussein National Stadium and demanded that the stars and stripes be hoisted with the star spangled banner playing in the background. If for the past few years the two countries have agreed to play under the "unification" flag and Arirang replaced partisan national anthems then why not continue this practice rather than risk a potentially inflammatory situation by pressing the issue with FIFA.
I just don't get it. I think this is an unnecessary headache.