North Korea Soccer, woo!

With North Korea's opener tonight against Brazil, I have a good link for you, here. Essentially, it's a link to ESPN's video report on a North Korean (or Chosun, what Korea and Koreans were referred to since 2000 B.C.) soccer player, An Yong Hak. The story takes on the political as well as the difficult aspects of being a Korean player living in Japan but playing for the North Korean national team. They probably could have tackled the difficulties of all the cross national issues with his life. But what's really interesting is how South Koreans react to him and the North Korean national team.

Many South Koreans are rooting for the North Korean national team to succeed. That's Korean pride for you. With all the conflict going on between the two governments, you would expect it to be the opposite. Hell, North Korea said it would turn Seoul into a 'sea of flames.' That's Korean pride for you.You can root for your fellow Koreans (Chosun) just not their government. I'm sure they won't be out in the streets in hordes watching the game tonight like they will be on Thursday at 8:30 pm Seoul Time (Argentina vs. SK). But they will be supporting them.

Go North Korea?

Well, not really.

South Korea has had a defector to the North before. But his name escapes me. Anyone know?

Now, what about players defecting at the World Cup? Don't plan on it happening. If a player defects from North Korea, you can expect Kim Jong Il's National Security Bureau to round up his immediate family. They even make the North Korean players, cheerleaders, whoever visits South Korea (or probably anywhere else in the world) sign agreements not to discuss anything they might see. You can't even go out alone abroad without North Korean officials watching you. When they return, they are likely to be sent to 'reeducation' camps.


Anyway, tonight's match against Brazil should be interesting. I believe if North Korea loses they won't even show the full game in North Korea. They will only show propaganda-style highlights. I'm going with 4-1 Brazil. North Korea will sneak in a lucky goal. 


Last week South Korea blasted Greece in the World Cup opener. But this rocket was not such a great success.