North Korea has reportedly said that it will allow Japanese cheering squads to enter its country for a World Cup qualifying soccer match to be held on June 8th in the North Korean capital.

Vice chairman of Japan's Football Association said that Pyongyang told visiting association officials last week that it would accept some two-to-five-thousand Japanese fans to root at the second preliminary finals match between the two countries, ahead of the 2006 German World Cup games.

North Korea attached certain conditions, including limiting the size of the media crew to 100, cameramen to 50, and confining their coverage to the soccer game only.

Related discussions regarding lodgings and transportation will be necessary, as it will be the first time for thousands of Japanese people to visit North Korea at one time.

However, if the Tokyo government activates any kind of sanctions against the North regarding the Japanese abductee issue, the political climate may alter the sports situation accordingly.