- Title: Japanese former wrestler-turned politician departs for Pyongyang
- Date: 7th September 2017
- Summary: BEIJING, CHINA (SEPTEMBER 7, 2017) (REUTERS) PEOPLE WALKING BY SCREEN SHOWING FLIGHT DEPARTURES SCHEDULE IN BEIJING CAPITAL INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TERMINAL 2 DEPARTURES GATE SCREEN SHOWING FLIGHT TO PYONGYANG ON DEPARTURES SCHEDULE PEOPLE WALKING THROUGH SECURITY INTO INTERNATIONAL DEPARTURES CHECK-IN GATE SIGN READING (English and Chinese): "INT'L/HK, MACAO, TAIWAN DEPARTURES" MAN WEARING SHIRT SHOWING NORTH KOREAN FLAG / PASSENGERS WALKING THROUGH CHECK-IN GATE JAPANESE POLITICIAN AND FORMER WRESTLER, ANTONIO INOKI, WALKING THROUGH SECURITY INOKI WALKING WITH MEDIA MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) JAPANESE POLITICIAN AND FORMER WRESTLER, ANTONIO INOKI, SAYING: "The way things are going in the world is starting to change, so if you ask me what (the purpose of) my visit is, outright, I would have to say it would be to make sure that the exchanges are not stopped" MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) JAPANESE POLITICIAN AND FORMER WRESTLER, ANTONIO INOKI, SAYING: "In the conversations, I had last year (with North Korean officials), I asked whether it would be possible to have exchanges and accept delegations to North Korea. It's not official, only on a personal level, and I was told we would certainly be welcome." MEDIA/INOKI WALKING AWAY INOKI WALKING INTO CHECK-IN GATE AND BOWING TRAFFIC PASSING IN FRONT OF EXTERIOR OF BEIJING CAPITAL INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TERMINAL 2
- Embargoed: 21st September 2017 07:38
- Keywords: Antonio Inoki Japan North Korea Founding Day Beijing Capital International Airport Pyongyang
- Location: BEIJING, CHINA
- City: BEIJING, CHINA
- Country: China
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0016XLJJUV
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Japanese former wrestler-turned politician Antonio Inoki departed for Pyongyang from Beijing's Capital International Airport on Thursday (September 7).
Inoki said he hoped the current international political climate would not affect planned talks he will have with North Korean officials about cultural exchanges through sports.
Inoki is visiting North Korea to participate in events marking North Korea's Day of the Foundation of the Republic. His visit also comes several days after North Korea conducted a nuclear test which showed the country has either developed a hydrogen bomb - which has vastly more destructive power than atomic bombs - or was getting very close to obtaining one. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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