On the morning of Sept. 28, a group of 355 North Korean team supporters arrived at Busan's Dadae port aboard the North Korean ship, ManKyungBong92. A few hours later, the welcome reception for them was held at the Haeundae Grand Hotel. The supporters filed off of their five busses to a background of constant applause provided by the dignitaries on hand and the entire Grand Hotel staff. Smiles, bows, and non-stop anyong hashimnikka's were exchanged as the supporters, waving their Korean peninsula flags, made their way to the Grand Ballroom.

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Once in the ballroom, speeches were made from both sides, choirs sang, dancers danced, those of us who haven't gotten our press passes yet, were kept outside, and lunch was finally served - steak, shrimp, mushroom soup, bread & butter.

For an hour and a half, the press corps hounded every bathroom seeking North Korean, hoping to find out their reaction to being here. We learned that that they were very happy to be here, thought the food was 'OK', but in general were not very fond of butter.

After lunch, there was more applause, bowing, and tussling of children's hair, as the supporters made their way back to their busses.

Mayor Ah Sang Yong and the leader of the North Korean delegation (like all of the supporters , wearing his Kim Il Sung pin) watched everyone board the busses with a look of pride and satisfaction. Both sides waved as they closed this very amicable beginning to an unprecedented visit.

Once the busses pulled out, an equal number of security busses holding South Korean riot police (who'd been standing by 'just in case') followed and made way for the Asian Games torch to pass through. The cheery Asian Games theme song blared as the a big Seagull and hordes of 'Samsung girls' escorted by rollerbladers waved to onlookers.

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