What Is North Korea's Connection to Baseball?... Background of WBSC President Ricardo Fraccari's Visit to Pyongyang

Yang Haeyoung Says, "The Visit Aims to Promote Baseball 5"
North Korea's Last International Baseball Appearance Was the 1993 Asian Championship in Australia

Ricardo Fraccari, president of the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC), visited North Korea on the 19th. Photo by Yonhap News Agency and Korean Central News Agency

There is growing interest in the background of the visit by Ricardo Fraccari, president of the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC), to North Korea. The last international baseball tournament North Korea participated in was the 1993 Asian Championship held in Australia, and the country is widely regarded as a baseball wasteland.

On July 20, the Korean Central News Agency reported that Ricardo Fraccari, president of the WBSC, visited North Korea on July 19. The agency stated, "A delegation from the World Baseball Softball Confederation, led by President Ricardo Fraccari, arrived in Pyongyang on the 19th, and Vice Minister of Sports Park Chonjong welcomed them at Pyongyang International Airport."

Park Chonjong, a former basketball player and current Vice Minister, also attended the inter-Korean sports talks held at the Peace House in the southern area of Panmunjom in June 2018. The Korean Central News Agency did not provide an explanation for Fraccari's visit to North Korea, and the WBSC has also not disclosed any related information.

North Korea is known as a baseball wasteland. Until 2015, there were reports that baseball games were held in Nampo as part of the national championship events, but since then, no further reports have emerged. The last international baseball tournament North Korea participated in was the 1993 Asian Championship in Australia.

While softball is believed to be more active in North Korea compared to baseball, the country has never demonstrated competitiveness in international tournaments. Yang Haeyoung, president of the Korea Baseball Softball Association, analyzed the situation through a WBSC official, stating, "It seems that a new baseball softball association has been established in North Korea. Since it is difficult to play baseball immediately, I believe the purpose of the visit was to actively encourage them to try Baseball 5."

Baseball 5, often referred to as "fist baseball," is a ball game characterized by minimal equipment requirements. Developed by the WBSC in 2017, this sport was adopted as an official event for the 2026 Dakar Summer Youth Olympic Games.

Yang Haeyoung said, "Baseball 5 is spreading in regions such as Africa and Europe, where baseball is not widely played," adding, "I believe North Korea has been included as one of the target countries for this initiative."