InfoAnda - North Korea bank on surprise element

Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case
Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They

Taiwan denies boycotting Australian film festival
Thursday, August 6, 2009

AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e

Merkel's support dips, regional ally resigns International
Thursday, September 3, 2009

By Sarah Marsh and Noah Barkin

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German

Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who

Asian markets mixed after Wall Street rally
Wednesday, March 18, 2009

By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an

Firms including Google to build Asia undersea cable | 11 December 2009
Hot tea linked with throat cancer | 27 March 2009
Taliban threaten to attack Afghanistan election | 17 September 2010

San Francisco voters defeat sign district plan | 4 November 2009

Forum Views () Forum Replies ()

Read more with google mobile : North Korea bank on surprise element

Yahoo! My Yahoo! Mail More Yahoo! Services Account Options New User? Sign Up Sign In Help Yahoo! Search web search Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Australia China India Indonesia Japan Malaysia Philippines Thailand Vietnam North Korea bank on surprise element AFP - Monday, May 31 Send IM Story Print North Korea bank on surprise element HONG KONG (AFP) - – Isolated on the global stage, North Korea travel to the World Cup in South Africa with an intriguing air of mystery swirling around the squad. The only other time the secretive nation reached football's showpiece was in 1966 when a team of unknowns delivered a seismic shock by defeating fancied Italy 1-0 on a memorable run to the quarter-finals. But the 105th-ranked "Chollima" lack the same capacity to upset this time around after a gruelling qualifying campaign involving 16 matches over 20 months. It's a far cry from 1966 when only Australia stood in the North Koreans' way of reaching the finals in England after the African nations withdrew, protesting the decision to allow only one qualifier from Africa, Asia and Oceania. South Korea also pulled out. The bulk of the 2010 World Cup squad play for domestic clubs in North Korea, better known for its nuclear weapons programme and dubious rights record, but a handful ply their trade overseas. These include striker Jong Tae-Se, who plays in Japan's J-League along with fellow Japanese-born ethnic Korean An Yong-Hak. Striker Hong Yong-Jo is on the books of Russia's FC Rostov. Star players in the squad who are based at home, where FIFA says there are nearly 15,000 registered players and half a million overall, include midfielder Mun In-Guk and goalkeeper Ri Myong-Guk . Coach Kim Jong-Hun is hoping his squad can match the exploits of the 1966 legends, even though they are locked in a tough group with five-time champions Brazil, Portugal and Ivory Coast. "It was as a result of our hard work that we will return to the World Cup, 44 years after we reached the last eight at England 1966," he said. "I hope we can repeat the feats of our predecessors." Nick Bonner, associate producer of the 2002 film "The Game of Their Lives," charting the story of the 1966 team, said North Korea were realistic about their chances. "It's even more of a challenge in that they're representing a country that's also vilified. They're also aware of that," said Bonner, who makes regular trips to the country with Koryo Tours, which runs tourism and cultural projects. "Whereas any other team is of course playing for themselves and their country this has a greater importance in a way because it's time for them to show 'we're here,'" he said. He conceded that a relative lack of experience in playing teams outside North Korea would be a hindrance but the players would be tough. North Korea, who have also reached the finals of next year's Asian Cup, conceded just seven goals in their qualifying campaign to take one of the continent's four automatic spots in South Africa. Their return to football's top table marks an upswing in their fortunes. Football is the country's most popular sport but Pyongyang's leadership banned the national squad from travelling abroad after losing to arch-rivals Japan and South Korea in qualifiers for the 1994 World Cup. They returned to international football at the Bangkok Asian Games in 1999 but did not compete in qualifying for the 1998 World Cup in France or 2002 in South Korea and Japan. North Korea earlier this year scooped the AFC Association of the Year Award. "The Korean association has produced a men's national team that qualified for the FIFA World Cup finals despite having a fraction of the resources and facilities available to other economically better-off associations," the AFC said. "Their success at elite level is only the tip of the iceberg, with a solid grassroots structure that is producing scores of talented youngsters who are waiting for their chance at the top," it added. The players will be happy to arrive in South Africa with their tag of relative unknowns. But they are aiming to leave as household names. Recommend Send IM Story Print Related Articles Japan, China launch 'cartoon' diplomacy AFP - 34 minutes ago Bangladeshi PM 'cleared of corruption cases' AFP - 56 minutes ago S.Korea holds war games near tense border AFP - 1 hour 1 minute ago NZ anti-whaling activist on trial in Japan AFP - 1 hour 20 minutes ago Thai PM under fire over deadly crackdown AFP - 1 hour 30 minutes ago News Search Top Stories Celine Dion pregnant with twins: report England football hopefuls wait on Capello call Fed's Bernanke urges G20 to pull together reforms Clashes as Israeli forces storm Gaza aid boat: Hamas TV BA runs 'more flights than planned' despite strike More Top Stories » ADVERTISEMENT Most Popular Most Viewed Most Recommended Egypt unearths tomb of pharaonic army chief The point about pain: New study sheds light on acupuncture Aid ships set out to bust Gaza blockade Celine Dion pregnant with twins: report Lindsay Lohan wants a Chanel alcohol tag More Most Viewed » Scientists stunned as grey whale sighted off Israel Hubble catches planet being devoured by its star Earth may be too hot for humans by 2300: study Ocean fish could disappear in 40 years: UN Paris museum burglar grabs 120-million-dollar art haul More Most Recommended » Elsewhere on Yahoo! Financial news on Yahoo! Finance Stars and latest movies Best travel destinations More on Yahoo! News Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Subscribe to our news feeds Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS » More news feeds | What are news feeds? Also on Yahoo Answers Groups Mail Messenger Mobile Travel Finance Movies Sports Games » All Yahoo! Services Site Highlights Singapore Full Coverage Most Popular Asia Entertainment Photos World Cup 2010 Copyright © 2010 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved. Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Community | Intellectual Property Rights Policy | Help

Other News on Monday, 31 May 2010
Seven police killed in Afghan blast: official
Ten thousand subscribe to El Mundo paid news app.
The point about pain: New study sheds light on acupuncture
NATO general in Afghanistan: Taliban train in Iran
Egypt unearths tomb of pharaonic army chief
Aid convoy sets sail for blockaded Gaza |
No need to restructure Greek debt: minister
UK coalition plans seen surviving Laws' departure |
French Socialists say to pick 2012 candidate mid-2011 |
S.African police rescue 21 Thais from alleged brothel
Own-goals deny Japan historic victory over England
Better than 'Sex,' 3-D 'Shrek' again tops box office
Al-Jazeera anchorwomen 'quit in clothing spat'
Sex less scintillating at box office |
More than 10 dead as Israel storms Gaza aid boat: army
France pushes economic ties at new-look Africa summit
Tropical Storm Agatha kills 96 in Central America |
'At least 10 dead' as Israel storms aid convoy: Israeli TV
Clashes as Israeli forces storm Gaza aid boat: Hamas TV
BA runs 'more flights than planned' despite strike
Celine Dion pregnant with twins: report
Israel boards Gaza-bound ships, 15 dead: reports |
England football hopefuls wait on Capello call
Fed's Bernanke urges G20 to pull together reforms
Colombia's Santos takes solid lead into June runoff |
Defense chiefs say Australia won't replace Dutch
Japan PM at risk as government ratings drop before vote |
Hamas renews offer to end fight if Israel withdraws |
NATO general in Afghanistan: Taliban train in Iran
Ladies in White say Cuba prisoner plight goes on |
China urges region to step back from Korea clash |
Six Turkish soldiers killed in attack: report |
China's Wen jogs through Tokyo park to woo Japanese |
No more comrades on Beijing buses |
Bangladeshi PM 'cleared of corruption cases'
US reassured Netanyahu ahead of NPT deal: Israeli official
S.Korea holds war games near tense border
Global Weather-Celsius
NZ anti-whaling activist on trial in Japan
Israel recoils as US backs nuclear move
Thai PM under fire over deadly crackdown
S.Korean troops stage major drill near tense border
Pakistan court orders Facebook access restored
Study finds iPads cost most in Europe and UK, cheapest in U.S. |
China, Japan agree hotline after naval incidents
Aussies love Kiwis despite rivalry, says survey
Support for Japan PM plummets to new low
North Korea bank on surprise element
Director quits 'Hobbit' film over production delay
Japan factory output up 1.3 percent in April
S.Korea's April industrial output continues growth
HK regulators fine Merrill for concealed losses
Panasonic aims to be Japan No. 1 in solar business
Bangladesh ready for wild World Cup -- despite no team
India's economy grew 8.6 percent in March quarter
A stone's throw from Nile, Egypt's taps are running dry
Honda Motor hoping to resume output after strike
Del Toro quits as director of 'The Hobbit'
Standard Chartered raises 530 million dollars in India sale
Camels: Afghan proxy warriors
Japan factory output up for second straight month
Director quits 'Hobbit' film over production delay
Thai tourism seeking recovery from protest turmoil
Celine Dion pregnant with twins, says husband |
Ray Charles' copyrights a lucrative business |
Carly Simon brews fresh lawsuit against Starbucks |
Director Guillermo del Toro leaves The Hobbit |
US troops in Afghanistan mark Memorial Day
ECB sends mixed messages on bond purchases
German President quits after military action row |
Iran foreign minister optimistic on uranium deal
Pope names inspectors in Irish Church abuse probe |
BP rushes new Gulf oil operation
Pakistani jets attack militants, 42 killed |
France says Africa must be on U.N. Security Council |
Ban presses countries to join war crimes court |
G8 seeks new drive to meet 2015 aid goals for poor |
Iran expands atom work, bomb fear remains: IAEA |
Malaysia's Anwar fights sodomy charges with alibi
Australian police probe hepatitis cluster at abortion clinic
Japan, China launch 'cartoon' diplomacy
Apple says sold 2 million iPads |
Asustek joins tablet PC race; launches app store |
Bomber Drops Flowers In Memorial Day Tribute To Fallen CIA In Afghanistan
Designer Itay Malkin Reproduces "Sex And The City 2" Black Diamond Ring
Drunken Drummer Impales Head After Fall From Balcony
Tactic To Stop Gulf Leak Could Hike Oil Flow During Attempt
Director quits 'Hobbit' film over production delay
Asia stocks mixed as bargain hunters offset Euro woes
Indian growth higher than expected
Coast Guard Seizes 800 Pounds Of Marijuana Off Florida
Allergic Asthma Sufferers May Be More At Risk Of Flu
Researchers Say People Waiting Too Long To Start HIV Treatment
China's Wen maintains 'sense of crisis' over economy
New Jersey Fishermen Enjoy Healthy Shad Haul
Sharp unveils 3D televisions in Japan
Prenatal Exposure To BPA May Up Breast Cancer Risk
Fed's Bernanke calls for G20 to coordinate reforms
"Sex And The City 2" Disappoints At The Weekend Box Office
Honda says 'some progress' in talks with China strikers
China's shift away from cheap labor hard on all
'Bondi Rescue' TV surfer star survives broken neck
Taiwan's AsusTek unveils tablet computer
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights

USD EUR - 1 year graph		BlogMeter 1.01