The last time North Korea played in the World Cup it was rumoured that the players got drunk and ‘womanized’ and were therefore punished and sent to work in Coal Mines for their conduct. However, apparently, 7 are still alive and reportedly well.

It is always a wonder how the North Korean elite feel when their citizens (who are never allowed to leave the country) are allowed into a free, open, and more technologically advanced society.

North Korea's Lee Kwang Chon, left, and South Korea's Park Ji-sung

North Korea is a highly symbolic nation that emphiasises the display of its hard working, artistic, and sporting prowess to show the whole world what it is all about.

Despite the fact that most news we hear about North Korea is about the military and government, we cannot forget that real people and real lives do continue in North Korea, no matter how warped their view of the world and history may be. And this is the same for football (or soccer, in the US.)

Yesterday, South Korea pushed North Korea into second place at a stadium in Shanghai in the FIFA Asian Qualifying Group B after a string of draws from their last 5 matches.

North Korea is now 1 point behind.

The game was reasonably calm and entertaining, despite the political and military tensions lately. Perhaps that’s because North Korea’s civilians are not allowed to travel outside the country and the majority of North Korea’s away-from-home fans are ethnic Koreans living in Japan.