Korea DPR coach Kim Jong-Hun has set his initial target at a quarter-final spot in South Africa although his country is locked in a tough group with five-time champions Brazil, Portugal and Côte d'Ivoire. "We're brimming with confidence. We're much stronger than before," Kim told the Tokyo-based ethnic Korean daily Choson Sinbo before his team, minus the J-Leaguers, left Pyongyang on Saturday for pre-finals training in Europe. "The first goal for us is to make it to the quarter-finals. We will put on strong fights against any football powers," he added.

The coach said North Korea were now equipped with greater physical strength, skill and tactics, thanks to their year-long training that included more than 10 competitions abroad.