With many of the 32 countries beginning to qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, interest in the preparations for the tournament is steadily gaining momentum.

After a 44-year FIFA World Cup drought, the ambassador to South Africa of the Democratic People's Republic (DPR) of Korea, HE Mr An Hui Jong, is ecstatic that the country will again be participating at Africa's first FIFA World Cup next year.

"We are extremely excited and committed to playing in next year's FIFA World Cup and we are confident that we will do better than 1966," said the ambassador.

Given that in their first and only FIFA World Cup appearance in England in 1966, the DPR Korean team sensationally beat Italy 1-0 and lost a 5-3 thriller against Portugal in reaching the quarter-finals, the team's South African ambitions are certainly lofty ones.

"Football is very important for us and doing well in the World Cup in South Africa would give us tremendous encouragement for our nation to believe that North Korea can achieve anything and go forward as a nation," the Korea DPR Ambassador added.

A big fan of South Africa and its vibrant sporting culture, the ambassador today met with 2010 FIFA World Cup™ Organising Committee CEO, Dr Danny Jordaan, to initiate contacts between the Organising Committee and the DPR Korea's embassy, after the team's qualification for next year's event.

"As hosts, we are happy to welcome North Korea back onto the World Cup scene, and wish them well in what will definitely be a very exciting tournament," said Jordaan

DPR Korea is the fourth team of the Asian Zone preliminaries to qualify for next year's FIFA World Cup in South Africa after Japan, Australia and Korea Republic.

This will be the first time in history that the two Koreas will be participating in the same FIFA World Cup tournament.