The national soccer team of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has drawn attention after they clinched a ticket to the 2010 South Africa World Cup finals.

Fans are wondering why the unknown DPRK players could amaze the world with a single feat. A DPRK soccer veteran elaborated it to a Japan-based Korean newspaper

Willpower, fast speed and good technique played a vital role for DPRK to defeat rivals and go through the Asian qualifications, said Ri Dong Gyu, a 72-year-old sports researcher who was called "the No. 1 football commentator in DPRK," according to Choson Sinbo, a newspaper run by Korean in Japan.

Every DPRK player had given full play to his will and mental power, and intended to show the world the Korean's heroic mettle, Ri said.

The DPRK players were self-confident, although their team only ranked 127th among the FIFA teams before the Asian qualifications, Ri said, adding that he believed the DPRK team possessed the potentiality to squeeze into world powers.

He hoped the DPRK players should exert their advantages of strong minds, endurance and solidarity in next year's finals to win over their rivals.

Source: Xinhua