SEOUL, June 12: State television in Stalinist North Korea on Monday began broadcasting World Cup matches supplied free of charge by South Korea, officials said. The North's Central Television Station aired Saturday's first-round match between England and Paraguay from 1:00pm on Monday, the Korea Broadcasting Commission in Seoul said.

“We began relaying the World Cup broadcast to North Korea via satellite today after testing it on Sunday,” a KBC official said.

He said the South was offering the North complete coverage of the football tournament in Germany, including opening and closing ceremonies.

The commission refused to confirm reports that South Korea agreed to pay some $150,000 to FIFA for the broadcast rights in North Korea.

Broadcasts of World Cup matches in North Korea are expected to include games involving South Korea, in Group G of the tournament along with France, Switzerland and Togo. The South Koreans play Togo in their opening game on Tuesday.

South and North Korea, which have been technically at war since the 1950-1953 conflict, have increased ties since a summit between their leaders in 2000.

During the 2002 World Cup staged in South Korea and Japan, Seoul sent videotapes to North Korea a day or two after the games. For the 2004 Athens Olympics it offered the North a live feed of major events.

North Korea has not qualified for the World Cup since it stunned the football world in 1966 by beating Italy.—AFP