North Korean football coach sacked, could be executed

North Korea World Cup coach Kim Jong-hun has been sacked, publicly ridiculed, expelled from the Worker’s Party and made a construction labourer after his team failed to do well in South Africa.

He has also been accused of betraying General Kim Jong-un, the shadowy son of North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong-il, raising fears that he could be executed.

According to the Daily Express, in recent months, North Korea has executed two top officials, one who oversaw a disastrous currency revaluation and another who was in charge of diplomatic talks with South Korea.

The North Korea team was initially praised for their spirited display in their opening group game against Brazil, when they lost 2-1.

On the back of that performance, the despotic leadership took the unprecedented step of broadcasting live the team’s second group game against Portugal.

But they were left stunned when the team lost 7-0.

Commentary of the second half, when the North Koreans conceded six of the goals, stopped and the match went unreported in the next day’s newspapers.

They finished their campaign with a 3-0 defeat by the Ivory Coast.

On their return home, the squad were forced to stand for six hours on a stage at the People’s Palace of Culture while an audience of 400 party officials, athletes and students reprimanded and ridiculed them.