Only a lucky few North Koreans get the chance to travel out of the country, but the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s (DPRK) first national hearing impaired football team is being given the rare privilege to play their first international friendly game against Australia in Sydney this weekend.

Formed just a year ago, the players are between the ages of 15 and 25 and they were handpicked to represent their country based on their health, skill and stamina.

To accommodate their disability, the coach gives orders using sign language and the referee uses a flag instead of a whistle.

“It’s difficult to play when you’re deaf but we are playing football together as a team,” player O Jung Gol said.

“We have good practice and with good team spirit, we can overcome all difficulties,” he said.

The North Korean team’s visit followed calls by the United Nations General Assembly’s Human Right’s Committee (HRC) last month to refer the DPRK to the International Criminal Court for alleged crimes against humanity.

The referral followed a UN Commission of Inquiry report published in March 2013, which detailed wide-ranging human rights abuses and atrocities in the country, including prison camps, systematic torture and starvation.

Professor Bronwen Dalton from the University of Technology said the football tour was a significant step towards the North Korean government’s efforts to help improve international relations.

“Their visit is highly unusual and it’s trying to send a few messages,” Professor Dalton said.

“It’s that the North Koreans aren’t always about violation of human rights. For example, they provide support for the physically disabled.

“It’s also trying to signal a gesture of friendliness and a new experimentation with cultural diplomacy and sports diplomacy.

“Nevertheless, things are done with a purpose. It’s a very rational act there.

“It’s not a crazy rogue state. It does things in a calculated fashion and they would only be doing this, if they saw some benefit to their own international reputation.”
North Korea enters world stage for disabled sport

The DPRK’s deaf football team’s trip is a first, but it is the country’s third international appearance representing people with disabilities.

In 2012, Rim Ju Song, a 17-year-old amputee, participated in the Paralympics in London, as the country’s first Paralympian athlete.

Despite the swimmer coming in last in his race, his courage to compete made history at home and abroad.

And most recently, the DPRK sent nine athletes to participate in this year’s Asian Para Games in South Korea.

In 2003, the government passed a law that officially acknowledged the existence of people with a disability and it aimed, in principle, to protect them.

The law outlined six chapters on caring for people with a disability, covering areas such as rehabilitation, education, cultural life and labour.

Little is known about the effectiveness of the law and Professor Dalton has questioned the significance of the legislation.

“As far as rights of people with a disability in North Korea, I feel there hasn’t been a significant change,” he said.

“Basic human rights are under threat in that country and there are no particular services or support delivered despite the recognition of people with a disability in 2003.”

But North Korea’s football chief manager, Jong Hyun, insisted their government was working hard to address the needs of all citizens.

“The government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea regards the work for the protection of people with a disability as one of the most important policies,” he said.

“The government is giving priority to the development of work of the protection of people with disability now.”

As for the upcoming friendly match on December 13, striker Ri Kuk Jin said whatever the final result, he hoped to make his country proud.

“We are very grateful to the government for sending us to be here,” he said.

“We are people with disability. We are all deaf but we will work hard to improve our football skills through this opportunity so that we can repay our government’s policy for protection of people with disabilities.”