A senior official from the World University Games Daegu organizing committee expressed his hope Monday that the sports delegation from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) could resume their journey to the Universiade.

However,Chang Suk-Chul,deputy secretary general of the games generalization,added that the odds was kept low.

"We have talked with the DPRK delegation and are still waiting for their response before the opening ceremony,but we're not optimistic about the result,"Chang said.

A statement released by the DPR Korea Sunday said that the DPRK wouldn't send any athletes to Daegu and would reconsider their participation in the Universiade,which is slated for Aug.21-31.

According to the organizing committee,part of the delegation,including 88athletes and 24journalists,canceled the flight to Gimhae Airport at Busan,citing a mechanical glitch with the two planes to transport them to the event.

They informed the organizers the next morning,however,that they decided to halt the voyage due to "security reasons".

"They said they worried about the athletes'security in Daegu,"Chang said.

Cho Hae-Nyoung,the president of the Daegu Organizing Committee also expressed his hope for DPRK's participation in a written announcement released Monday morning and guaranteed DPRK delegation's security in Daegu.

The DPRK had been expected to send a 218-member delegation for the Universiade and the athletes from the two nations were scheduled to march hand-in-hand under a single flag into the opening ceremony.