North Korean Football Emerges from Behind the Veil

For the first time since 1966, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea—the national team of North Korea—has remarkably qualified for the World Cup Finals.

Off the field the outlook for the so called "Hermit State" is bleak as it finds itself once again crippled by a devastated economy. Add to this that relations with the South—and the rest of the world for that matter—are growing ever tenser by the day, and reports of widespread famine and unrest refuse to go away, and the picture is not a bright one.

But in stark contrast to the precarious economic and political problems facing the country are the fortunes of their footballers, who are emerging from obscurity to enjoy unprecedented success at a number of levels. Not only did their women’s under-20 side win their respective World Cup in 2006, but their under-17 counterparts clinched their own world title in 2008, beating the USA in the final.

Rapid improvements have undoubtedly been made at all levels, but in the case of the senior men’s team it’s more the manner of their qualification that has stunned the football world. They finished second behind their neighbours and bitter rivals, South Korea (a country they’ve technically been at war with since 1950), in their Asia-Pacific qualifying group.

The group also contained Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates and considering the human rights records that each of these nations boasts, perhaps the term, "The Group of Death", has never been more appropriate.

Putting the current political situation aside for a minute (if that’s at all possible), what the national team has achieved in qualifying for South Africa 2010 is nothing short of startling. Due to the draconian restrictions of movement placed on every North Korean individual, not a single player plies his trade in any of the major European leagues, with the vast majority of them earning their livings in the North Korean league itself, of which little is known.

One player—striker Hong Jong-Jo—does play his football in the emerging Russian league, but that’s as exotic as the story gets.

They will never have faced the likes of Ronaldo, Kaka, Messi, Rooney, or Henry, and if their viewing habits revolve around state run TV, they won’t have seen them play much either. And it’s because of the level of opposition that they’re used to playing that they'll be labelled as the potential whipping boys in South Africa.

But history has shown they’re not to be underestimated, as their exploits in the 1966 Finals showed. On that occasion their team of outsiders beat Italy, before narrowly losing in the quarterfinals to Portugal (after throwing away a 3-0 lead).

Whether history will repeat itself is yet to be seen, but their achievements in reaching the finals are to be applauded.

Unfortunately—and perhaps understandably—these achievements will no doubt be overshadowed by the bigger issues at hand, but if a North Korean team does take its place in South Africa, it will divide opinion like never before.

Some will deplore their inclusion, whilst for others it will embody the very nature of the open, global game, where a squad of unknowns can pit their wits against the true superstars of the sport.

Either way, one thing is for certain, if they're drawn in the same group as the USA be sure to stand well back because sparks are gonna fly, on and off the pitch!