FIFA Defends Stifling Questions to N. Korea Team

Before North Korea's World Cup match against Brazil, coach Kim Jong Hun bristled when a reporter referred to his country as "North Korea."

"There's such no country called 'North Korea,"' he barked.

(Though commonly called "North Korea" internationally, the reclusive nation refers to itself as the "DPRK" in English, for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea).

The coach then snapped: "Next question."

Ok, next question: Would the match be shown on television in his home country after South Korea blocked TV feeds amid rising political tensions?

But that question was never answered - because a FIFA official wouldn't allow it.

Now soccer's governing body is defending its efforts to stop journalists from posing political questions to the North Korean coach and players, according to Soccernet.

"We are here to talk about football not politics," a FIFA spokesman said. "What we are trying to do is facilitate a relationship between the teams and the media, and the media officer did what he felt was right to achieve that."

This time journalists bristled, arguing FIFA's censorship ran counter to its guarantee of open media access.

The careful orchestration of the North Korean press conference was perhaps only surpassed in the stadium stands.

According to the Los Angeles Times, North Korean fans watching the Brazil match "reacted to the action on the field only when directed to do so by a man who stood before them like an orchestra conductor."

Speaking of orchestra conducting, there has been rampant speculation about the "coaching" influence exerted by North Korean leader Kim Jong Il.

It has been reported that Kim not only hand-picked the players on the team but also that he employs some sort of telepathic technologyto offer tactical advice.

Perhaps, as the spoof film "Team America" suggested, Kim Jong Il really is pulling all the strings.