N Korea and S Korea meet on pitch

Impoverished North Korea maintains an international football team

The national football teams of North and South Korea are to meet in a World Cup qualifier match in Seoul, amid increasing political tensions.

North Korea is planning to launch a rocket shortly in what it says is an attempt to put a communications satellite into orbit.

But the South, and its US and Japanese allies, suggest it will actually be a test for a long-range missile.

The diplomatic stand-off is raising the sporting stakes.

Sometimes, a simple sporting moment takes on a bigger political meaning and the football match between North and South Korea may be just such a moment.

Neutral ground?

The two teams have played each other a number of times over the past year during the qualification stages for the next World Cup.

But North Korea's home matches have had to be played on neutral ground in Shanghai, because the North refused to allow the playing of the South's national anthem or the waving of its flags.

Relations between the two governments have deteriorated since a new conservative administration took office in Seoul last year.

This latest derby clash takes place against a backdrop of even higher political tension.

North Korea is planning to launch a rocket as early as Saturday - an attempt it says to put a communications satellite into orbit.

But the South, and its US and Japanese allies, believe the real purpose of the launch is the development of long-range missile technology.

They are threatening action to agree new UN sanctions in response.

The atmosphere in the ground though will be rather one sided.

North Korea's travel restrictions on its own people make it impossible for fans to attend, even if they could afford it.

During past games a group of South Korean volunteer supporters have been assembled to provide cheering for the visitors from across the board.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7975821.stm