The National Sports Team played the match with the Jebi Team.

It trounced its rival 12:0.

Kim Jong Un expressed satisfaction over the fact that the men footballers of the National Sports Team fully displayed high football technique, mental power and persevering fighting spirit and had a photo taken with them.

The men footballers of the National Sports Team have conducted good training to take part in the games, he said.

Great are expectations and interest of our people in the games, he said, adding: "Sports persons should take part in the games and give full play to the noble spirit of sports, the stamina of the nation and the spirit of fair play and thus positively contribute to promoting reconciliation and unity of fellow countrymen, friendship and peace with various countries of the world."

"The participation of the DPRK's players in the 17th Asian Games offers an important occasion in improving the relations between the north and the south and removing distrust between them", he said, adding "it is our principled stand that the inviolable sports should not be a political bargaining chip of the undesirable forces".

He expressed expectation and conviction that sports persons of the DPRK including the men footballers of the National Sports Team who will take part in the games would put greater spurs to training.

Among the spectators were Choe Ryong Hae and Kim Yang Gon, secretaries of the C.C., the WPK, Hwang Pyong So, Ri Yong Gil, Hyon Yong Chol and other commanding officers of the KPA.