Fears for North Korea's World Cup coach after team subjected to six-hour grilling August 2, 2010 - 1:16PM


Kim Jong-hun ... sent to work on a building site. Photo: Getty Images

Pim Verbeek may have been grilled by the Australian media after failing to take the Socceroos to the second round of the World Cup, but the former South Korea coach must be thankful he was not coaching their reclusive North Korean neighbours instead.

Reports have emerged the totalitarian state has apparently forced the North Korean coach Kim Jong-hun to work at a construction site.

He was also expelled from the Workers' Party of Korea and accused of "betraying the Young General Kim Jong-un", leading to fears for his life, Radio Free Asia reported.


Kim Jong-Un Photo: AFP

Young General Kim Jong-un is the son of enigmatic Dear Leader Kim Jong-il, and is expected to take over his father as head of the pariah state.

The players were also reportedly subjected to a stern reprimand from the country's officials after losing all three of their games in South Africa.

During a six-hour session at the People's Palace of Culture, each player was individually singled out for their "mistakes" in front of 400 officials, including other sportsmen, women and students, South Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo reported.


Dear Leader ... Kim Jong-il Photo: Reuters

"Coach Kim Jong-hun and the team's athletes were made to stand on a stage and other North Korean athletes and students took turns criticising the players," a source told Radio Free Asia.

"At the end of the session the team members were made to criticise their coach."

The only two players who escaped the reported beratement were Japan-based stars An Yong-hak and Jong Tae-se, also known as North Korea's "Wayne Rooney" and the man who cried when the anthem was played before a World Cup game.


Jong Tae-se ... avoided punishment as he was in Japan. Photo: AFP

But perhaps the players and coach got off lightly - for North Korean standards at least.

A South Korean intelligence source told Chosun Ilbo previous teams were subject to more severe punishment than their contemporary counterparts.

"In the past, North Korean athletes and coaches who performed badly were sent to prison camps," the source said.

"Considering the high hopes North Koreans had for the World Cup, the regime could have done worse things to the team than just reprimand them for their ideological shortcomings."

In South Africa, North Korea went down 2-1 to Brazil, before suffering a 7-0 thrashing at the hands of the Portuguese. In their final game, they lost 3-0 to the Ivory Coast. The group had been labelled the "Group of Death" after the draw was announced in December.

The East Asian country is ranked 103rd on FIFA's world rankings and last qualified for the World Cup in 1966. They were always considered one of the weakest teams at this year's competition in South Africa.