DPRK hails 'fierce' fight

Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)'s official media on Wednesday praised the team for a "fierce" fight in its first World Cup match for 44 years, complimenting the players for their dogged performance against Brazil.

The DPRK "created scoring chances without losing faith despite trailing 0-2" until Ji Yun-nam scored a goal in the 88th minute, the Korean Central News Agency said, just hours after the game ended in Johannesburg.

"The match was a fierce exchange of offense and defense from the beginning," it said.