Mizzunderstood international pariah North Korea has held up an olive branch to Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) president Tunku Ismail Ibni Sultan Ibrahim, and granted him special access via direct flight from Johor to Pyongyang. The rest of us can fly from Beijing, like everyone else.
In a time when North Korea is mostly making headlines for firing missiles in the general Japanese direction, threatening US territory Guam, holding Malaysian diplomats, and – oh yeah! – mayyyybe state sponsoring patrilineal assassinations in international airports not their own (IT WAS OURS), the move is a surprising, if rather friendly one.
Sorry Dennis Rodman, but everyone knows that football is the best diplomatic, bridge-building platform. I mean, after sanctions.
The access was granted to Tunku Ismail by North Korea’s charge d’affaires officer Kim Yu Song, who had an audience with the Tunku Mahkota Johor yesterday.
A big topic, among general foreign relations and current affairs (awk-waaarrrd), was the upcoming Asian Cup 2019 qualifying match between Malaysia and North Korea, to be played in Pyongyang October 5th.
Pyongyang has assured that Malaysian players and team official will be safe while there. Um, thanks?
The statement was posted to the Johor Southern Tigers (Go JDT!!) Facebook page, and is no small feat.
Diplomatically speaking, this is an incredible honor given to any official, as all world leaders must fly to Beijing first, before flying on to Pyongyang.
Impressive. Also, GO HARIMAU MALAYA!!
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