DPRK's World Cup dream draped in Chinese jerseys
The "mysterious men from the north" are back in the soccer World Cup finals after 44 years - and at least some proud Chinese are cheering for them.
Wearing bright red jerseys, colored shoes and socks, and sporting a white-swan mascot above the Chinese brand name "ERKE" on their chests, the sun-tanned men from the Democratic People's Republic of Korean (DPRK) left the Saudi Arabian capital Riyadh on a high after a goalless draw on Wednesday. The stalemate was enough to secure a spot in the 32-nation field next year, joining host South Africa, the Netherlands, Australia, Japan and its neighbor the Republic of Korea. China failed to qualify in the preliminary Asian round.
"It was very difficult to enter the 2010 finals. The DPRK soccer team owes its success to the Chinese company," said Hong Myong-chol, deputy sports attach at the DPRK embassy in China.
