North Korean stars duck political questions

North Korea’s footballers refused to answer political questions during their trip to France to prepare for next year’s World Cup.

Kim Jung-Hun’s side finished second behind neighbours South Korea in Asian qualifying group two to secure World Cup qualification for the first time since 1966 and have begun their preparations at a training camp near Nantes in north-west France, after travelling from Pyongyang via Beijing and Paris.

A shock 1-0 victory over Italy at the 1966 tournament in England secured their place in World Cup folklore before they were eliminated by Portugal in the quarter-finals, in what was the team’s last trip to Europe.

The arrival of the 28-man group, which includes 19 players, has sparked great interest in the French media and their first press conference on Tuesday was eagerly awaited.

However, journalists fishing for an exclusive on life as a footballer in one of the world’s most secretive states quickly found themselves disappointed.

After the visiting delegation had a request for all questions to be submitted prior to the conference turned down, Kim appeared in benevolent if platitudinous mood.

“We would like to thank everyone that was involved in the organisation of this trip and who enabled us to be here,” he said.

“France is a power in world football and has won the World Cup.”

Captain Nam Song Chol was asked to describe the format of the North Korean national championship, but declined to go into detail.

“For this type of question, you should ask a representative from the federation,” he said.

Things were similarly stilted in the second press conference on Thursday, with one reporter being rebuked by a translator after asking Kim if he felt his team was a flag-bearer for North Korea’s communist regime.

“I don’t see why you mix up football with all that,” was the translator’s terse response.

Asked if he was attracted by the possibility of a united Korean team featuring players from both North and South, Kim was equally curt.

“That doesn’t concern me,” he said.

North Korea will take on French second division side Nantes at La Roche-sur-Yon on Friday and the Congo national team on October 13 at Le Mans.