North Korea qualify for World Cup

North Korea qualified for their first World Cup finals since 1966 after holding Saudi Arabia to a 0-0 draw on Wednesday.

The visitors finished the game with 10 men and defending against a wave of attacks but held firm to join South Korea, Australia [ Images ] and Japan [ Images ] as Asia's four automatic qualifiers for South Africa [ Images ] 2010.

North Korea finished runners-up to South Korea in Group Two while Australia and Japan went through from Group One.

Third-placed Saudi Arabia, bidding for their fifth successive appearance in the finals, advanced to the Asian playoffs with Bahrain, third in Group One.

The two teams meet over two legs in September with the winners progressing to a home and away playoff against Oceania winners New Zealand [ Images ] in October and November for a place in South Africa.

With Saudi Arabia needing to win to gain an automatic place, the hosts made all the early running at the King Fahd International Stadium.

They kept North Korea under pressure with a series of shots at goal but were unable to capitalise on their chances, even when the visitors were reduced to 10 men when Kim Yong-jun was sent off in stoppage time.

North Korea's only previous appearance at the World Cup was in 1966 in England [ Images ] when they reached the quarter-finals.