Two Koreas reach World Cup finals together for first time

(ATTN: RECASTS lead; UPDATES with quotes in 4-5 paras; ADDS details in paras 13-14)
SEOUL, June 18 (Yonhap) -- North and South Korea will both be competing in the
2010 South Africa World Cup, the first time the two sides will appear in the same
tournament after North Korea's 0-0 draw with Saudi Arabia in Riyadh on Thursday.

North Korea won an automatic berth in the 2010 World Cup finals Thursday by
finishing second in its regional group after the final qualifier.
It became the fourth automatic qualifier in Asia following Australia, Japan and
South Korea.
North Korean coach Kim Jong-hun praised his players for their "great
performance," according to wire reports.
"We focused on defending as we had come under a lot of pressure from the Saudis
and I think our preparation for the game was one factor that earned the victory
tonight," Kim was quoted as saying.
South Korea tied 1-1 with Iran earlier on Wednesday, topping the group. It is the
first time that the Koreas, which have remained technically at war since their
1950-53 conflict, will participate together in the same World Cup tournament.
South Korea first competed in the 1954 Switzerland World Cup and in six straight
tournaments from the 1986 Mexico World Cup to the 2006 event in Germany, while
North Korea participated in only the 1966 England World Cup where they finished
in the quarterfinals.
The two Korean rivals have clashed four times during the qualifying round for
next year's finals, tying three games and with the South winning 1-0 in their
last meeting on April 1.
With the scoreless draw, the North Korean team wrapped up the World Cup Asian
qualifying round with 12 points -- three wins, two losses and three draws --
edging its Middle East rival Saudi Arabia on goal difference.
Its unbeaten South Korean neighbor topped the group with 16 points, grabbing a
seventh consecutive ticket to the global showcase event.
During the match against the Middle East powerhouse, North Korea concentrated on
defense to ensure a stalemate. Aided by goalkeeper Ri Myung-guk's fine saves, the
team needed at least a draw with Saudi Arabia in the final match of the
qualifying round in Riyadh to secure the runner-up position.
Iran was eliminated from competition after its draw with South Korea on
Wednesday, finishing fourth.
Iranian striker Masoud Shojaei's goal gave his team the lead after a scoreless 51
minutes, boosting hopes of a berth in the World Cup finals until the 81st minute
when South Korea's Park Ji-sung equalized.
Park's late goal ensured an undefeated record for the South Korean team in eight
qualifying matches for the World Cup, the first time since 1990 when it went
unbeaten to qualify for the global event.
Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, the third-place finishers in their respective groups,
will meet in playoffs in September. The winner will then take on Oceania champion
New Zealand for a berth in South Africa.
brk@yna.co.kr
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