North Korean junior team in Germany visit

Nov 9, 2009, 13:36 GMT

Frankfurt - A North Korean junior national team on Monday visited the headquarters of the German Football Federation (DFB) and the nation's Olympic Committee (DOSB).

The visits to the Frankfurt offices was part of a two-week visit to Germany of the under-16 team of the communist nation.

'The visit to Germany of the North Korean footballers is a sports-political first. We are happy that both sides do their share towards international understanding,' said DOSB president Thomas Bach.

Bach welcomed the delegation featuring 17 players, five coaches and North Korea's International Olympic Committee member Chang Ung.

Bach and Chang had suggested the trip during last month's IOC meetings in Copenhagen, and the project was completed by the DOSB and the German foreign ministry.

Chang said: 'The visit was a success, the training was excellent and the boys are happy. It was important for them to see how high the technical and athletic level is in European junior football.'

German coaches Klaus Schlappner and Bernd Fischer worked with the North Korean team which plays its final of three games on Tuesday. The youngsters also went to see the Bundesliga match between Eintracht Frankfurt and VfL Bochum 10 days ago.

The North Korean senior team qualified for the 2010 World Cup earlier this year. It is only the nation's second trip to the World Cup, the first being in 1966.