N. Korea's football team receives heroes' welcome at home

SEOUL, June 21 (Yonhap) -- North Korea's football team received a heroes' welcome
after securing a spot in the World Cup finals for the first time since 1966,
state media said Sunday.

The North Korean football squad returned home over the weekend after qualifying
for the 2010 tournament in South Africa with a 0-0 draw against Saudi Arabia on
Wednesday. North Korea's only previous World Cup finals appearance was in England
43 years ago.
Hundreds of people including Yang Hyong-sop, vice head of parliament, party
secretary Kim Jung-rin, as well as students and children greeted the football
team at Pyongyang's airport Saturday, after which a special banquet was held in
Pyongyang to congratulate the players, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA)
said.
"Sportspersons congratulated players and coaches on their success, putting
garlands around their necks and presenting them with bouquets. Pyongyangites
turned out to the streets and enthusiastically welcomed the proud sons of the
nation," the KCNA said.
North Korea's qualification for the World Cup finals comes as the communist state
faces increasing condemnation by the international community following its May 25
nuclear test and test-firing of rockets.
The United Nations Security Council recently agreed on financial and diplomatic
sanctions against Pyongyang for defying a U.N. resolution by detonating its
second nuclear device.
The North Korean football team was banned from traveling overseas after it lost
to archrivals Japan and South Korea in qualifiers for the 1994 World Cup. It also
did not compete for the 1998 or 2002 World Cup.
hayney@yna.co.kr
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