Mission in progress: Two young fans, Denim Nou, left, and Jayden Cook. Photo: Dallas Kilponen

All that 10-year-old Jayden Cook wanted were photos and signatures from players of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. He rushed to the squad with his Macarthur Rams jersey, armed with a black felt pen and a smile. They were international footballers, that’s all he knew.

But the boy from Campbelltown quickly learnt these footballers seemed to have less freedom than he did, as the players were quickly ushered away by stern team officials less than a minute later.