Kim Jong-il bans World Cup coverage unless North Korea win

SEOUL - North Korean leader Kim Jong-il has banned the World Cup from being shown in his country unless the national team wins.

According to The Telegraph, Kim has ordered state-run television not to broadcast live games, and to only screen highlights of North Korea’s victories.

The ruling means that 99 per cent of the country’s 29 million population will not be able to find out who wins the competition unless the 350-1, outsiders win it.

Mike Breen, author of highly-respected book Kim Jong-il: North Korea’s Dear Leader, said: “Like everything else there, the regime will have complete control over the World Cup. North Korea will not pay for the TV rights, which means they will not be able to screen live games on state television. They are more likely to get footage from South Korea and then it will be heavily edited to suit the regime.

It is the first time that North Korea has qualified for the World Cup in 44 years. The last time they qualified was in England in 1966 when they pulled off one of the biggest shocks by beating Italy 1-0 to reach the quarterfinals. (ANI)