No fans, no live broadcast, no foreign media, this is how the World Cup qualifying match between Korea and North Korea took place.

South Korea and North Korea had an important match in the 2022 World Cup qualifier on Sunday at the Japanese capital Stadium in Pyongyang under the witness of Gianni Infantino, president of the World Football Association (FIFA). In the end, the two teams drew with a score of 0-0. Describing the match, the Korea Football Federation Vice President said it was "no different from a war".

"It was bad that we couldn't win, but the game was so tense, that I thought returning home without any injury was a great achievement," Son Heung-min, The South Korean footballer who is joining the Tottenham Hotspur club, said. "The Korean player is very sharp and fierce".

"I have never seen a football match so drastically. It's like a fight," said Choi Young-il, vice president of the Korea Football Federation, said.

According to South Korean coach Paulo Bento, the match was "not good" because it was "often interrupted" when the referee was forced to stop the match halfway to warn the players.

Regarding the stadium without a spectator, Son, the captain of the Korean team, said he was not shocked. "It makes me believe that Koreans think we are a strong team," he said.

Korean players are not allowed to use mobile phones during their stay in Pyongyang, however, Son said he personally does not mind. "I like that rule because I have to sleep a lot."

Foreign media described the match as "strange" when no spectators were allowed to enter the court, not reporting live on television and without the shadow of the foreign press team.

No live broadcast, but the Korean government pledged to give the Korean team a DVD recording the match before they left Pyongyang on October 16, the Unification Ministry announced.

This is the first time in 30 years the match between the two teams was held on the Korean territory. The last time South Korea and North Korea faced a World Cup qualifier was in Seoul in 2009. At that time, North Korea lost 1-0 and blamed South Korea for poisoning its players. them before the match.

North Korea's central news agency KCNA made a brief report on the match against the Korean team yesterday morning, announcing the final result was zero after a series of "offensive and counterattacking" opportunities.

FIFA Infantino President said in a statement that he "felt very disappointed not to see any fans in the stands".

"We are surprised by this and because of some other issues related to the live broadcast or the issue with visas and foreign journalists' access," he said, adding that with FIFA, freedom of the press and freedom of speech are of utmost importance.

Last year, the world witnessed a remarkable effort to promote diplomacy between South Korea and North Korea through sports. The two countries sent athletes to join the hockey team and march together at the opening ceremony of the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea.

The move set the stage for a summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in. The two sides even discussed hosting the Summer Olympics in 2032.

But the Korean-Korean relationship has since cooled since then, with talks on Pyongyang's nuclear and missile program stalling.

In addition to not being allowed to broadcast live and the stands empty, Korean media were also banned from entering the stadium. Only 30 South Korean Football Confederation officials with limited communication equipment were allowed to relay information about the match, officials in Seoul said.

"There are always at least a few Korean fans. This is the first time we play without anyone," defender Kim Min-jae said on October 14, before the match. "But we can overcome it and play well."

A user on the Korean social network Naver asked: "How can we host the Olympics when we can't even watch a soccer match together?".

"The best is that we win but lose is okay. I just hope the players return healthy," another joked.