All EyEs on ‘KorEAn DErBy’ in PyongyAng toDAy

SEOUL — Son Heung-min may be the biggest soccer name in South Korea and across Asia but the Tottenham forward’s fame struggles to penetrate North Korea.

As the two neighbours meet in a 2022 World Cup qualifier on Tuesday, the only attention the English Premier League star can expect in Pyongyang is from the home team’s defenders.

The “Korean Derby” is the first Pyongyang meeting between North Korea and South Korea since a friendly game in 1990. It is also the firstever competitive fixture north of the 38th parallel between the two countries that remain in a technical state of war.

The EPL is the most popular international league in South Korea, but little-watched in internationally isolated North Korea.

“I don’t think the (North Korean) fans know much about Son Heung-min but the players know him well,” An Yong Hak, a former North Korea international, told The Associated Press. “Fans in Pyongyang are looking forward to the game. It is not just the opponent, but this is an important World Cup qualifier and if we win it will be a great result.”

An played in all four qualifiers between the two teams ahead of the 2010 World Cup. South Korea won one match, with draws in the other three — two of which took place in Shanghai and not Pyongyang at the request of North Korea.

North Korea has home advantage with the 50,000 capacity Kim Il Sung Stadium expected to be full. “It is a big stadium. North Koreans love football and will make plenty of noise,” An said. —