JAPAN AND SOUTH KOREA: ANYTHING BUT TWO PEAS IN A POD

     Japan and South Korea are "bidding ferociously" against each
other for the rights to the 2002 World Cup, according to the
FINANCIAL TIMES.  The competition has fed into ongoing "quarrels"
over events that took place during World War II, and South Korean
Prime Minister Lee Hong-Ko has warned that the World Cup bidding
could worsen matters.  FINANCIAL TIMES' Terazono & Burton write,
if South Korea gets the games, it could be a "fatal blow" to the
Japanese professional soccer league, as Japan has never made it
to the World Cup finals and could give up on the sport.  If Japan
wins, it would add to a "long list of grudges" South Korea has
against Japan.  FIFA decided against moving the decision up to
December '95.  An announcement is still expected in June '96
(FINANCIAL TIMES, 11/18-19 issue).