With the AFC U23 Championship edging ever closer, join the-afc.com as we continue our look at the teams who will be vying for honours in Qatar, at a tournament that also doubles as the qualifiers for the men’s football tournament at the 2016 Olympic Games.

DPR Korea

DPR Korea have an impressive recent record at youth level and the East Asians will be determined to add the AFC U23 Championship to titles they have won at under 19 and under 16 levels, with a number of players from the 2010 AFC U-16 and AFC U-19 Championship-winning sides featuring in the qualifiers for Qatar.

The North Koreans kicked-off their AFC U23 Championship qualifying drive with a comfortable 4-0 win over the Philippines before again scoring four times in their second Group G fixture, with the third goal in the 4-1 over Cambodia coming from Jo Kwang, who was on target as DPR Korea defeated hosts Uzbekistan in the final of the 2010 AFC U-16 Championship.

A goalless draw against Thailand concluded DPR Korea’s Qatar 2016 qualifying campaign but it was enough to see them through to the finals, where the East Asians will look to improve on their performance in the inaugural tournament, which was played at under 22 level in Oman back in January 2014.

A number of the squad that finished third in Group B two years ago are still eligible to play in Qatar including keeper An Tae-song, who conceded just one goal in the Qatar 2016 qualifiers, Ri Hyon-song, So Kyong-jin, Pak Hyon-il, Kwang - scorer of two goals in DPR Korea’s 3-1 win over Yemen in their AFC U-22 Championship opener - and Jang Kuk-chol, a member of the senior national team that took part in the 2015 AFC Asian Cup.

DPR Korea’s Group B Fixtures

January 13: DPR Korea v Japan (Grand Hamad Stadium, Doha)

January 16: DPR Korea v Saudi Arabia (Grand Hamad Stadium, Doha)

January 19: DPR Korea v Thailand (Grand Hamad Stadium, Doha)....

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