Recriminations were in order for the North Korea national football team after their poor results in South Africa.

According to a report from the Telegraph, the entire squad was forced onto a stage at the National People's Palace of Culture and subjected to criticism from Pak Myong-chol, the sports minister, as 400 government officials, student and journalists stood in attendance.

In addition, the squad's coach, Kim Jong-hun, was reported to have been forced to become a builder and had been expelled from the Workers' Party of Korea.

He was apparently punished for "betraying" Kim Jong-un- one of Supreme Leader Kim Jong-il's sons and heir apparent of North Korea.

The country had reached its first World Cup since 1966, but lost all three group games.

However, media in South Korea said the players got off lightly by North Korean standards.

"In the past, North Korean athletes and coaches who performed badly were sent to prison camps," said a South Korean intelligence source to the Chosun Ilbo newspaper.