Pak and Cha headline North Korea squad

North Korea have included Swiss Super League based pair Pak Kwang-ryong and Cha Jong-hyok in their 22-man squad for the upcoming Asian Cup.

Pak, currently playing on loan at Vaduz from Swiss champions Basel, is one of only four players in Jo Tong-sop s party to play outside of North Korea.

Defender Cha also plies his trade in Switzerland s top flight and he is one of just two players in the squad that played in the 2010 World Cup with goalkeeper Ri Myong-guk having also represented North Korea in South Africa.

Head coach Jo has also named eight players from Rimyongsu, who finished runners-up at the AFC President s Cup in May.

North Korea are participating in the tournament for the second time running and will hope to better their group-stage exit in Qatar in 2011 when the 2015 version starts in Australia.

First up for Jo s men in Group B is Uzbekistan on January 10, while they will also face group matches with Saudi Arabia and China.

 

Squad in full:

Goalkeepers: Ri Kwang-il (Tokushima Vortis), Ju Kwang-min (Rimyongsu), Ri Myong-guk (Pyongyang)

Defenders: Ri Chang-ho (Rimyongsu), Ro Hak-su (Romyongsu), Sim Hyon-jin (4.25), Jon Kwang-ik (Amroksang), Jang Kuk-chol (Hwaebul), Cha Jong-hyok (Wil), Han Song-hyok (Rimyongsu), Jang Song-hyok (Rimyongsu)

Midfielders: O Hyok-chol (4.25), Jon Il-gwan (Rimyongsu), Ri Kwang-il (Tokushima Vortis), Pak Song-chol (Rimyongsu), Ri Sang-chol (Rimyongsu), Ryang Yong-gi (Vegalta Sendai)

Forwards: Choe Won (Hwaebul), Om Chol-song (4.25), So Hyon-uk (4.25), Pak Kwang-ryong (Vaduz), Kye Song-hyok (4.25)

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