Soccer has gained great prominence in recent years in Asia. One of the biggest reasons for the growing influence of the game in the largest continent has been the rise of South Korea. The nation has produced world-class players inviting viewership and interest. However, their northern neighbor, North Korea has not enjoyed success like them and attracted unwanted attention about the proceedings of soccer in the country.
Soon after the World Cup ended in South Africa in 2010, reports began surfacing regarding the punishment the North Korean players were subjected to following their group stage exit in the event. News outlets at the time reported staggering information, including the story of coach Kim Jong Hun being asked to do forced labor, while the players were sent to coal mines after facing defeat in a fixture.
An Yong Hak lets the world know about the North Korean soccer team
North Korea has fallen out of the radar in recent years, owing to disappointing performances all around. Despite this, the peculiar state of soccer in the nation has led retired player An Yong Hak to come out and clear the air on the rumors, “I think it’s time to put an end to that kind of false information”. Yong Hak was part of the national team from 2002-2012, participating in the historic FIFA World Cup 2010 for North Korea.
An Yong Hak dismissed any talk about the cruelty inflicted on the soccer players or the coaching staff and was quick to appreciate the regime’s efforts to acknowledge and reward the team’s efforts to qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The retired midfielder, though, accepted the difficulties of settling in the national team dressing room upon his debut. According to Yong Hak, the senior players demanded the youth to win their trust and recognition before welcoming them to their squad.
North Korea’s performance over the years
North Korea has been able to qualify for the FIFA World Cup on only two occasions, one in 1966 and the other in 2010. Their first appearance was far more successful with the nation reaching the quarter-finals. In 2010, North Korea was eliminated in the group stage, losing all three games by an aggregate margin of 12-1, comprising of a 7-0 loss to Portugal. Since then, challenging times have greeted the players and the coaches with little promise for the future.
Currently, the national team is engaged in the Asian qualifiers for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America. They have qualified for the third round of the qualification, owing to their second-placed finish in group B of the second round. North Korea’s form, nevertheless, displays signs of inconsistency, with three wins and three defeats in their last six encounters.