The mayor of the South Korean host city for the upcoming Summer Universiade said on Monday that "he remains hopeful North Korea will overturn its boycott and take part in the athletic competition," according to YONHAP. Gwangju Mayor and Universiade Organizing Committee President Yoon Jang-hyun said that "the doors to the athletes' village will stay open for the North Koreans." Yoon: "We won't give up hopes of seeing North Korea until the day of the opening ceremony (Friday)." On June 19, North Korea "emailed the organizing committee to withdraw its earlier plan to take part in the July 3-14 competition with 75 athletes and 33 officials in eight events." Yoon said that he had "asked an official of a civilian group visiting North Korea on Tuesday to deliver a message on Gwangju's behalf." North Korea "took part in the last Universiade held in South Korea in 2003, and announced its decision to participate two days before the opening ceremony." This time, North Korea cited political reasons for the boycott, saying that "it was opposed to the opening of the Seoul office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights" (YONHAP, 6/29). YONHAP also reported South Korean Adm. Choi Yun-hee, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, warned Monday "about a possible North Korean provocation with the Summer Universiade just around the corner." He said, "Given North Korea's decision not to join the event, there could be the possibility of North Korea's terror attempts before or after the event as well as provocations near the front line or at the sea, designed to interrupt it. The military is beefing up its overall readiness posture." Choi also "ordered the military to maintain water-tight security and anti-terrorism efforts jointly with the government and the police" (YONHAP, 6/29).
