Their women's national team has been a power for years, but men's soccer in North Korea, to the extent it exists at all, has barely registered. In fact, the reclusive country didn't even bother to enter the World Cup in 1998 or 2002.
But Wednesday, after surviving a Saudi Arabian onslaught and five tense minutes of added time in Riyadh, the global pariah will be participating in the world's biggest party. The 0-0 draw with Saudi Arabia lifted the North Koreans to second place in Asia's Group B and to the World Cup finals for the first time since 1966.
That year, the Koreans were celebrated thanks to a stunning 1-0 upset of Italy that carried them to the quarterfinals, where they lost to Eusebio's Portugal. Save for a first round appearance in the 1992 Asian Cup, they've not really been heard from since.
In 2006 qualifying North Korea finished bottom of a group that included Japan, Iran and Bahrain. It advanced to the final round again this term, managing home wins over Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates and an away triumph against the UAE. The logjam behind the qualified South Koreans (4-0-4) was broken today, when the northerners (3-2-3) managed to draw the Saudis (3-2-3), sending the latter to a playoff with Bahrain and eliminating Iran (2-1-5). North Korea qualified on goal difference.
Australia and Japan also qualified from Asia. The Saudi-Bahrain winner will face New Zealand for another spot in South Africa.
The North Koreans surely will attract plenty of curiosity next summer. How will the government, in the news so frequently lately for its defiance over its nascent nuclear program, use the spotlight? Will there be any North Koreans allowed to travel for the matches (I covered the North Koreans at the Women's World Cup in 2003, where fans unfurled the white 'unification banner' at games)?
Forward Jong Tae Se and midfielder Ahn Young Hak certainly will be players worth following. Both were born in Japan. Jong plays professionally for Kawasake Frontale of the J League and Ahn turns out for Suwon Samsung Bluewings in South Korea. Yet both choose to play for North Korea. How does that work, exactly? How do they cross the border for home games? Here is an interview with Jong conducted by FIFA.com last year. The remaining questions, and many more, hopefully will be answered next summer.
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Bahrain coach Milan Macala, center, looks on as Bahrainis celebrate their team advancing to the Asian playoffs after a 1-0 win over Uzbekistan on Wednesday, June 17, 2009, in a 2010 FIFA World Cup Asia Group1 qualifying soccer match in Riffa, Bahrain. (AP Photo/Hasan Jamali)
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Bahrain coach Milan Macala celebrates his team's advance to the Asian playoffs with Mahmood Abdul Rahman, right, who scored the only goal in Bahrain's 1-0 win over Uzbekistan on Wednesday, June 17, 2009, during their 2010 FIFA World Cup Asia Group1 qualifying soccer match in Riffa, Bahrain. (AP Photo/Hasan Jamali)
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TO GO WITH AFP STORY by Beatrice Debut South Africans walk to taxis at the Bree taxi rank on June 4, 2009 in Johannesburg. Pretoria and Johannesburg are each hosting Confed matches, but the two cities lie 60 kilometers (35 miles) apart and are linked only by a traffic-clogged highway that regularly turns the trip into a drawn-out journey. AFP PHOTO / PABALLO THEKISO (Photo credit should read PABALLO THEKISO/AFP/Getty Images)
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South Africa's head coach Joel Santana (L) and goalkeeping coach Grant Johnson react during their teams Confederations Cup soccer match against New Zealand at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg June 17, 2009. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko (SOUTH AFRICA SPORT SOCCER)
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Chris Killen (L) and Shane Smeltz of New Zealand look on after South Africa scored their second goal during their Confederations Cup soccer match at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg June 17, 2009. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko (SOUTH AFRICA SPORT SOCCER)
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TO GO WITH AFP STORY by Beatrice Debut A young boy walks past taxis and a Bus Rapit Transit station in construction on June 4, 2009 in Soweto. Pretoria and Johannesburg are each hosting Confed matches, but the two cities lie 60 kilometers (35 miles) apart and are linked only by a traffic-clogged highway that regularly turns the trip into a drawn-out journey. AFP PHOTO / PABALLO THEKISO (Photo credit should read PABALLO THEKISO/AFP/Getty Images)
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TO GO WITH AFP STORY by Beatrice Debut South Africans walk past taxis at the Bree taxi rank on June 4, 2009 in Johannesburg. Pretoria and Johannesburg are each hosting Confed matches, but the two cities lie 60 kilometers (35 miles) apart and are linked only by a traffic-clogged highway that regularly turns the trip into a drawn-out journey. AFP PHOTO / PABALLO THEKISO (Photo credit should read PABALLO THEKISO/AFP/Getty Images)
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SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - JUNE 17: Nekounam Javad of Iran wears symbolic green wrist bands before the 2010 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers match between Iran and South Korea at Seoul World Cup Stadium on June 17, 2009 in Seoul, South Korea. (Photo by Han Myung-Gu/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Nekounam Javad
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SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - JUNE 17: Nekounam Javad of Iran wears symbolic green wrist bands before the 2010 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers match between Iran and South Korea at Seoul World Cup Stadium on June 17, 2009 in Seoul, South Korea. (Photo by Han Myung-Gu/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Nekounam Javad
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South Africa's head coach Joel Santana reacts during his team's Confederations Cup soccer match against New Zealand at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg June 17, 2009. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko (SOUTH AFRICA SPORT SOCCER)
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