North Korea men's national ice hockey team

North Korea

Association	Ice Hockey Association of the DPR Korea
Head coach	Pak Chang-dok
Assistants	Yun Pong-chol
Most games	Il Sun Ri (33)
Most points	Hwi Thae Ri (26)
IIHF code	PRK
IIHF ranking	45
Highest IIHF ranking	36 (first in 2005)
Lowest IIHF ranking	45 (2011)
First international
Italy 11 - 2 North Korea  (Grenoble, France; March 8, 1974)
Biggest win
North Korea 22 - 1 Mongolia  (Yerevan, Armenia; April 14, 2010)
Biggest defeat
France 24 - 1 North Korea  (Budapest, Hungary; March 15, 1983)
IIHF World Championships
Appearances	18 (first in 1974)
Best result	21st (1990)
Asian Winter Games
Appearances	3 (first in 1986)
Best result	4th (1986, 1990)
International record (W–L–T)
46-86-5

The North Korean men's national ice hockey team are a national selects team that plays yearly in the Ice Hockey World Championships. They withdrew from the 2007 edition, and therefore were automatically relegated to Division III in the 2008 edition, where they finished first. They then played in Division II during the 2009 edition, and finished last bringing them back down to Division III for 2010. They are currently ranked 43rd in the IIHF World Rankings.

History

The game of ice hockey in North Korea became popular during the 1950s when Soviet and Chinese workers taught the game and its rules in the capital city of Pyongyang. The Ice Hockey Association of North Korea was founded in 1955. North Korea became a member of the IIHF on August 8, 1964. North Korea's first national Championship was held in 1956 and was won by Amnokang Pyonyang. The North Korean national team did not make its debut until 1974 when it competed in the C pool of the World Championships. The team lost its first game to Italy, 11-2 on March 8, 1974, but rebounded for surprising victories over China and Australia.

Withdrawal from 2011 IIHF tournaments

DPR Korea announced that their women's and men's teams were not going to compete in IIHF competition due to financial reasons. The men's time was scheduled to participate at the Div II championships in Melbourne, Australia, while the women's team was scheduled to participate at the Div II championship in Caen, France.

Tournament participation

• 1974 - 22nd place (8th in Pool C)
• 1975-80 - did not participate
• 1981 - 23rd place (7th in Pool C)
• 1983 - 24th place (8th in Pool C)
• 1985 - 23rd place (7th in Pool C)
• 1986 - 23rd place (7th in Pool C)
• 1987 - 22nd place (6th in Pool C)
• 1989 - 22nd place (6th in Pool C)
• 1990 - 21st place (5th in Pool C)
• 1991 - 23rd place (7th in Pool C)
• 1992 - 22nd place (2nd in Pool C, Group A)
• 1993 - 22nd place (6th in Pool C)
• 1994-01 - did not participate
• 2002 - 41st place (1st in Division II qualification)
• 2003 - 35th place (4th in Division II, Group B)
• 2004 - 34th place (3rd in Division II, Group B)
• 2005 - 34th place (3rd in Division II, Group B)
• 2006 - 36th place (4th in Division II, Group B)
• 2007 - Withdrew from tournament, relegated to Division III
• 2008 - 41st place (1st in Division III) Promoted to Division II
• 2009 - 39th place (6th in Division II, Group A) Relegated to Division III
• 2010 - 42nd place (1st in Division III, Group B) Promoted to Division II
• 2011 - Withdrew from Division II

Asian Winter Games

At the recent 6th Asian Winter Games, held in Changchun, China, the men's team was placed in 5th position, behind the four major powers of Asian ice hockey (Japan, Kazakhstan, South Korea, China).

The women's team finished 4th out of a possible five places, being placed higher than their historically superior neighbours South Korea.

2008 World Championship team

Pos.	No.	Player	DoB (Age)	Team
GK	67	Pak Kun-Hyok	January 1, 1988 (1988-01-01) (age 23)	Pyongyang
GK	66	Pae Myong-Nam	December 25, 1982 (1982-12-25) (age 28)	Pyongchol
D	3	Kim Jin-Hyok	December 23, 1982 (1982-12-23) (age 28)	Ryanggang
D	6	Ri Sun-Il	September 24, 1985 (1985-09-24) (age 26)	Pyongyang
D	7	Ku Song-Min	January 14, 1988 (1988-01-14) (age 23)	Pyongchol
D	10	Ri Pong-Il	September 29, 1988 (1988-09-29) (age 23)	Pyongyang
D	15	Jang Myong-Jin	January 2, 1981 (1981-01-02) (age 30)	Susan
D	21	Kim Kwang-Hyok	February 7, 1987 (1987-02-07) (age 24)	Susan
F	9	Ri Se-Gwang	July 1, 1988 (1988-07-01) (age 23)	Pyongyang
F	12	Kim Chol-Bom	February 13, 1985 (1985-02-13) (age 26)	Pyongyang
F	13	Ju Sung-Hyok	January 2, 1983 (1983-01-02) (age 28)	Pyongchol
F	14	Mun Chol	April 13, 1987 (1987-04-13) (age 24)	Pyongchol
F	16	Ri Kum-Song	December 14, 1988 (1988-12-14) (age 22)	Pyongyang
F	17	Ri Chol-Min	August 7, 1980 (1980-08-07) (age 31)	Pyongyang
F	18	Kim Chang-Min	August 15, 1988 (1988-08-15) (age 23)	Susan
F	19	Song Chung-Song	May 28, 1984 (1984-05-28) (age 27)	Pyongchol
F	23	Kim Kyong-Il	December 1, 1987 (1987-12-01) (age 23)	Pyongchol
F	24	Jong Song-Il	September 7, 1988 (1988-09-07) (age 23)	Pyongchol

• Head coach: Pak Chang-Dok^[1]

References

1. ^ [1] IIHF World Championship DIV III, MEN - DPR Korea Team Roster. Retrieved March 30, 2008.

External links

• The Hockey Almanac
• National Teams of Ice hockey