North Korea

North Korea, or the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, is in the northern half of the Korean peninsula in eastern Asia.

[1]		North Korea
		Info		Rinks		Players		Referees	50
		Population	24,051,218	Indoor	3	Total	3,270	Male	--
		Capital	Pyongyang	Outdoor	15	Male	480	Female	--
		IIHF Since	August 8 1963			Junior	1,940
						Female	850

It has a population of over 22,000,000 and the capital is Pyonyang.The North Korean men's national ice hockey team are a national selects team that plays yearly in the Ice Hockey World Championships. They withdrew from the 2007 edition, and therefore were automatically relegated to Division III in the 2008 edition, where they finished first. They will therefore play in Division II during the 2009 edition. The Game of ice hockey in North Korea became popular during the 1950s when Soviet and Chinese workers taught the game and its rules in the capital city of Pyongyang. The Ice Hockey Association of North Korea was founded in 1955. North Korea became a member of the IIHF on August 8 1964. North Korea's first national Championship was held in 1956 and was won by Amnokang Pyonyang. The North Korean national team did not make its debut until 1974 when it competed in the C pool of the World Championships. The team lost its first game to Italy, 11-2 on March 8th, 1974, but rebounded for surprising victories over China and Australia.

Since 1982, as North Korea played at the World Championships for the second time, it has played in the lower pools (divisions). In 2004, North Korea played in Division II, finishing third in group B.

National Teams

• North Korea men's national ice hockey team
• North Korea men's national junior ice hockey team
• North Korea men's national U-18 ice hockey team
• North Korea women's national ice hockey team

League

North Korean Championship