North Korea held a demonstration game of 'Baseball 5' in front of Riccardo Fraccari, the president of the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC), during his visit to Pyongyang.
On the 23rd, the Korean Central News Agency reported that a WBSC delegation led by Director General Fraccari observed the demonstration game of 5-person baseball by North Korean athletes the previous day. On that day, Director General Fraccari also met with Kim Il-guk, the Chairperson of the North Korean Olympic Committee, for discussions at the People's Palace of Culture. Additionally, Director General Fraccari visited significant sites including Mangyongdae, the birthplace of Kim Il-sung, as well as the Juche Tower and the Arch of Triumph. He also toured various sports facilities such as Kim Il-sung Stadium, the weightlifting gym in Youth Street, and the table tennis gym.
Previously, on the 18th (local time), the WBSC secretariat announced on its website that North Korea had applied for new membership in the WBSC. It was also mentioned that Director General Fraccari arrived in Pyongyang on the 19th for related matters.
'Baseball 5' is a ball game known as 'punch baseball,' characterized by minimal equipment. It is trending to spread in regions such as Africa and Europe where baseball is not widely popular.