North Korea, Kim Jong-il take their soccer very seriously

North Korea had not played in a World Cup since 1966. This was one of those times where “just making it” should have been reward enough. But not for Kim Jong-il and his band of happy-go-lucky tyrants.

Not only was the entire team publicly embarrassed in front of 400 people but the coach was booted from the Workers party and forced to become a builder. Apparently, construction workers aren’t held in high regard in the DPRK.

The players were subjected to a “grand debate” on July 2 because they failed in their “ideological struggle” to succeed in South Africa, Radio Free Asia and South Korean media reported.

The team’s coach, Kim Jong-hun, was reportedly forced to become a builder and has been expelled from the Workers’ Party of Korea.
The coach was punished for “betraying” Kim Jong-un – one of Supreme Leader Kim Jong-il’s sons and heir apparent.

The team certainly didn’t help their cause by getting jail sex’d 7-0 against Portugal in the first live televised sport in the country’s history. I’m guessing they now regret that late goal they scored against Brasil that gave fans hope. Maybe then, their coach would have only been demoted to bricklayer instead of construction worker.

Kim Jong-il: the life and times of the leader of North Korea [Telegraph]

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