(My Sportsbook) - North Korea is ranked fifth in the world, but it nearly cost itself a chance at a World Cup title.

After having a last-minute goal denied in a 1-0 loss to China in qualifying last year, North Korea's Hye Yong Han kicked the official and teammates Son Kyong Sun and Song Jung Sun threw bottles at other officials and fans.

All three players were banned from the Asian Championship third-place match, which decided the region's final automatic World Cup qualifier. North Korea overcame the losses to defeat Japan, 3-2, and make its third straight Cup.

With the controversy in the past, North Korea now has to figure out a way to get through Group B - easily the tournament's hardest with the United States, Sweden and Nigeria.

The team was upset about being placed in Group B by FIFA, which exempted North Korea from a random draw that normally selects the groups. Accusations were the decision was made to keep North Korea and China from meeting prior to the semifinals.

Although that mission may have been accomplished, it also landed North Korea in a very tough situation in group play. North Korea opens the tournament on Sept. 11 against the United States, which is ranked No. 1 in the world.

North Korea's second game is against the "weakest" team in the group, Nigeria, on Sept. 14. But then North Korea plays on Sept. 18 against Sweden, which is ranked third in the world.

While a third straight first-round exit is possible, North Korea is also so talented it could win the group and make a run at the title.

"North Korea is ... an extremely technical, athletic, fast, well-coached team who prides on counterattacks and putting high pressure on anyone who has the ball," U.S. defender Kate Markgraf said.

North Korea is 2-4-0 in its previous six World Cup matches in 1999 and 2003, which includes a pair of 3-0 losses to the United States. In its only meeting with Sweden, in the 2003 Cup when the same four teams were in the same group, North Korea lost 1-0.

Like most teams in this year's tournament, North Korea has changed a lot since the last World Cup under the guidance of coach Kim Kwang-Min.

North Korea won the Under-20 World Cup last year and has a number of players, including Ho Sun Hui and Kim Kyon Hwa, who are expected to make an impact for the senior team.

North Korea's high-energy team has one of the best striker's in the world in captain Ri Kum Suk. She was nominated for FIFA Women's Player of the Year in 2006, when she scored five goals in four games in the Asian Championships.

Midfielder Kim Yong Ae and forward Ri Un Gyong each scored three goals in the qualifying tournament, and Kim Than Sil scored two. They'll add to the offense while Sonu Kyong Sun, Song Jong Sun and Ho Sun Hui anchor the defense in front of Om Jong Ran, who will likely be the starting goalie.

But Suk is the key for North Korea. She had an amazing 15 goals in 2003 when North Korea won the Asian Championship. If she can display that form in the World Cup, the 28-year-old could erase the team's disappointing history.

Suk played on North Korea's World Cup teams in 1999 and 2003, but has yet to experience the elimination stage - something that won't be easy to accomplish this year either.

"We will work harder and try to step forward to be one of the top sides in the world," Suk told FIFA's Web site.

PAST ACHIEVEMENTS:

-- FIFA World Cup qualifier: 1999, 2003, 2007.

-- Asian Championship first: 2001, 2003.

-- Asian Championship second: 1993, 1997.

-- Asian Championship third: 1999, 2006.

-- Asian Games first: 2002, 2006.

-- Asian Games second: 1998.