When North Korea lost all three matches in the World Cup, including a 7-0 thrashing by Portugal, international fans feared for their lives. A former coach said they might be sent to work in the coal mines.
But they got off with nothing more than public shaming.
"Coach Kim Jong-hun and the team's athletes were made to stand on a stage and other North Korean athletes and students took turns criticizing the players. At the end of the session the team members were made to criticize their coach," RFA quoted a source as saying.
A source in Sinuiju said the theme of the session was "criticizing the betrayal of the trust of Kim Jong-un," Kim Jong-il's son and heir apparent. Coach Kim was probably reprimanded because somebody had to take the blame." The source added there are rumors that he was expelled from the party or sent to work at a construction site in Pyongyang."
Unfortunately, they're still living in North Korea.
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