The story

North Korea on Monday played host for the first time ever to the Olympic torch, as large crowds in Pyongyang waved red and white flags and cheered the runners.

Presiding over the event was the head of North Korea's rubber-stamp parliament and ceremonial state leader, Kim Yong Nam, according to The Associated Press.

He passed the torch to the first runner, Pak Du Ik, who played on North Korea's 1966 World Cup soccer team that made a historic run to the quarterfinals, AP reported. Read full article »

CNN's Sohn Jie-Ae contributed to this report.

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