Running for a reunited Korea

Equipped with a map, compass and his North Korean national team uniform, KyongSa Ri is running through the woods around Sognsvann.

– It is not as dense and overgrown here like home in Asia. I especially like to run in Norwegian marsh, says KyongSa on what has become quite good Norwegian.

The 34-year-old North Korean just started his teacher training in Physical Education at the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences (NIH), and has already managed to take a BA in Political Science at the University of Oslo (UiO). Through sports and education, he will fight for a united Korea.

– Perhaps unification can begin with a united Korean sports team. To run a World Champion relay for a united Korea is a big dream for me, says the orienteer.

Restricted Rights

As North Korean, KyongSa has an unusual history.

When Korea was freed from Japan in 1945, about 600,000 Koreans remained in Japan. These people and their descendants, such as KyongSa, are called zainichi, and have limited rights both in Japan and the Korean peninsula.

– In my eyes, zainichi are discriminated against in several areas. This is a much of the reason why we want a reunited Korea, says KyongSa.

Zainichi-people are basically stateless, and although several of them have North Korean passport, they are not allowed to settle in the country. Neither are they obliged to serve long years in the mandatory military service.

In the early years of his orienteering career, KyongSa represented South Korea, but in 2004 he no longer got his travel visa authorized. Because he wanted to continue with international competitions without obtaining a South Korean passports, the Nydalen-runner decided to switch nationality and represent North Korea.

Solitary performer

Since the World Cup in 2005, KyongSa has been North Korea’s orienteering hope in all international championships. Any support system is out of the question, and financial support from Kim Jong-un is absent. Still, the NIH student feels that he can do a lot for the country's sports federations.

– I do not know if I still monitored, but it's probably very likely, he says.

KyongSa Ri, North Korean and NIH-student

– I have regular contact with the orienteering association in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea via letter. By sharing my knowledge of sports science, I am helping to build a stronger sport community in the country, he says.

Last year KyongSa visited North Korea to talk about orienteering and to convince the sports confederation to send three athletes to the World Junior Championships in Telemark. He succeeded in this, and now he hopes that his new teammates also will take part in the World Championship in Sweden next year.

– If the confederation accepts that, I may run my first relay, he says with a wide smile.

KyongSa, who normally does orienteering daily, had to resort to alternative training during his stay in North Korea.

– I've never orienteered there, because they have not properly detailed maps, he says.

Monitored by the authorities

In 2012, the then President of South Korea, Lee Myung-bak, visited UiO. KyongSa says he was closely monitored by South Korean authorities during the entire visit.

– I do not know if I still monitored, but it's probably very likely, he says.

The two countries on the Korean peninsula has had a ceasefire since 1953, but a peace treaty has never been signed. As late as August this year, South Korea's defence ministry announced that North Korea would pay a dear price for having sneaked across the border and laid mines.

KyongSa, however, is most concerned about orienteering. He is not very interested in distributing any fault in the Korean conflict.

– Well, it's politics, he says, before changing topic.