N. Korean women look to avoid trade sanctions, to use Finnish hockey sticks

The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) will loan Finnish-made sticks to the North Korean delegation of the combined Korean women's hockey team ahead of the Olympic tournament, according to Choe Sang-Hun of The New York Times.

North and South Korea will field a joint women's ice hockey team for the tournament, creating a dilemma for all parties involved who want to avoid the complications of international trade sanctions.

South Korean officials have been reticent to assist North Korean players in regard to their equipment needs, so the IIHF reportedly interjected for the duration to provide the group with sticks to be returned after the tournament.

The unified team will also wear jerseys made by a Finnish company, as opposed to Nike uniforms, due to a fear of violating American sanctions against North Korea, the Times reports.