Rarely, North Korea broadcast its World Cup Qualifying Group B match against Iran live on Chosun Central TV. The match, which took place in the Yangakdo Stadium in Pyongyang at 5pm on the 6th, was the first live broadcast since a performance by the New York Philharmonic Orchestra during its visit to North Korea in February of last year.
Since North Korea considers its broadcasts an important method of propaganda, the country prefers to broadcast pre-recorded programs which maximize cultural education under the inspection of the North Korean authorities, rather than live broadcasts which must be transmitted to the citizens unfiltered.
North Korea also believes that sports are a form of ideological education. If the North Korean authorities broadcast an international game in which North Korea is defeated, they believe it will only undermine the confidence of the people in the regime.
Thus, among the international games in which it competes, North Korea generally limits its broadcasts to pre-recorded games where North Korea either wins the match or comes out even against a formidable opponent.
From such a perspective, the live broadcast of North Korea’s game against Iran is unexpected. Defectors note that such a deviation from the norm reflects increased confidence on the part of the North Korean authorities and the interest and anticipation of the North Korean people, since North Korea is doing well in the World Cup preliminaries.
Further, the relaxed attitude of the North Korean authorities could be accounted for by the belief that the broadcasting of the game is a means through which the unity of the citizens behind the regime can be heightened, even if the North suffers defeat.
The fact that North Korea had made significant effort before the game could be seen among the fans on the 6th.
The Yangakdo Stadium has a 30,000 capacity. The stands on match day were completely filled with North Korean citizens. In particular, the image of the North Korean players donned in red and the fans wearing the same red shirts and hats sitting side-by-side immediately relayed North Korea’s desire to promote its collective spirit.
Also, the slogan “Building a strong and prosperous state” was written on the red short-sleeved shirts, signifying North Korea’s intention to build a strong nation at all costs to the international community watching the game.
The images from the game were reminiscent of the time when the North Korean Women’s Cheering Squad came to South Korea and held a mass rally. However, it differed in quality from the South Korean Red Devils, who gathered in the stadiums where the World Cup Games were being held and cheered on the South Korean team.
When North Korea organizes a national event or gathering, it prioritizes mass participation which requires mobilizing all organizations such as factory enterprises or educational institutions. Because the failure to participate is interpreted as the “lack of ideological preparation,” North Korean citizens must participate whether they like it or not.
However, most Pyongyang citizens must have wanted to be mobilized this time.
The North had high expectations for the match against Iran, but the game ended in a 0-0 draw. North Korea now has 11 points and, depending on the result of its final match against Saudi Arabia, has a good chance of getting one of the direct tickets to South Africa which is given to teams who come first and second in the Asian qualifying groups.
Dr. Lee Dong Gyu, a researcher at the North Korean Sports Science Research Institute who was in charge of providing commentary for the games, stated, “Our team recently earned some good results thanks to our defense, high spirit and collective organizational power.” After the game, he assessed, “Our players showed good skills in this match against the physically strong Iranian team.”
Defector Kim Min (pseudonym, 35) had some heartening words for the North Korean team, “The North is a place which I have left, but I could not help but to wish for the victory of my countrymen in the game, so I am extremely disappointed by the draw. I hope that the players will not despair at today’s match and will try their best right up until the final match so that North and South Korea can go forward into the World Cup Games.”
