Kashiwa sign North Korean international

J-League side Kashiwa Reysol have signed North Korean midfielder An Yong-Hak from Omiya Ardija, club officials said on Thursday.

The 32-year-old played three games for North Korea in the World Cup in June in South Africa, where they lost all three games to go out of the competition in the group stages.

An, who played for Albirex Niigata, Nagoya Grampus, the K-League’s Busan I’Park and Suwon Samsung Bluewings before joining Omiya this season, has scored three goals in 64 games in the J-League first division.

“I’m really glad that I became a member of Kashiwa Reysol. I’ll do my best to live up to the expectations of my coach, who needed me, and the club,” An said in a statement.

He has represented North Korea since 2002 and will also play the AFC Asian Cup next month in Qatar.

Kashiwa were relegated to the second division last year, but they won the division title this season to return to the top league next season.