The Korean national football team has drawn the match against Turkey. The 0-0 draw leaves Korea's all-time record against Turkey at one win, two draws and four losses. It also means more criticism for Guus Hiddink, the former Team Korea coach who currently coaches the Turkish team, as it follows three consecutive losses for Turkey in international matches. Ji Dong-won started as a striker with Koo Ja-cheol, new captain Park Chu-young and rookie Nam Tae-hee supporting him. It was Park's first match as captain, succeeding the retired Park Ji-sung.

Middlesbrough Ladies football team lost their first match in their high-profile North Korea trip. The team left last week for the four-day trip to one of the world's most secretive societies.

On Sunday, they were beaten 6-2 by North Korean women's team April 25, the Korean Central News Agency said. The visit is the latest event in a relationship which stretches back to the 1966 World Cup when the North Korea team played in Middlesbrough. The Middlesbrough team arrived in the capital Pyongyang on Saturday.

DPR Korea will play a friendly against India, it has been decided. The Indian team, which is now in Lisbon for their two-month training-cum-competition stint in Portugal in the build-up to next year's Asian Cup in Doha, will play their first match at home against Thailand on September 8.

This is four days after they play the Thai team in Bangkok in their first international friendly after the Portugal stint.

India will play against North Korea, who lost all their three group matches in the recent FIFA World Cup in South Africa, at Ambedkar Stadium on September 14.

Korea DPR easily made it to the last eight of the U-20 women's World Cup. For the junior Football Ferns there was only disappointment because they also lost by the same score against Sweden on Tuesday and will exit the competition after their last group fixture.

North Korea’s intentions were plain from the start. They wanted to tie up the victory as soon as possible and to celebrate their safe passage into the knockout rounds. After two minutes Hyon Un-Hui tested Erin Nayler with a free-kick from the right.

North Korea have named their final 23 man squad.

Goalkeepers: Kim Myong Gil (Amrokgang), Kim Myong Won (Amrokgang), Ri Myong Guk (Pyongyang City)

Defenders: Cha Jong Hyok (Amrokgang), Ri Jun Il (Sobaeksu), Ri Kwang Chon (April 25), Nam Song Chol (April 25), Pak Nam Chol (Amrokgang), Ri Kwang Hyok (Kyonggongop), Pak Chol Jin (Amrokgang)

Midfielders: Ji Yun Nam (April 25), Mun In Guk (April 25), Pak Sung Hyok (Sobaeksu), Ri Chol Myong (Pyongyang City), Pak Nam Chol (April 25), An Yong Hak (Omiya Ardija), Kim Kyong Il (Rimyongsu), Kim Yong Jun (Pyongyang City)

North Korean workers have been employed in World Cup stadium construction in South Africa to help the destitute Asian state earn hard cash, a South Korean official said on Monday.

North Korea, one of the world's most-sanctioned states with few items it can legitimately export, has been sending its workers to places including Russia and the Middle East for decades to help bolster its coffers.

It now appears to be sending them to more places including Africa, said the official who asked not to be named.

Mexico's preparations for South Africa 2010 continued with a 2-1 win over fellow World Cup finalists North Korea in Torreon.

Veteran striker Cauhtemoc Blanco put the Mexicans in front on 51 minutes from a free-kick before Choe Kum-chol evened up the contest six minutes later.

Javier Hernandez headed in a 68th minute winner to maintain Mexico's unbeaten start to 2010 following comfortable wins over New Zealand and Bolivia.

Mexico have been drawn in the same group as hosts South Africa this summer, along with France and Uruguay in a tough Group A.