North/South Korea Soccer Showdown

North and South Korea are set to play a crucial soccer match today to quality for the 2010 World Cup. It comes amid heightened tensions just days before Pyongyang is expected to carry out a controversial rocket launch.

Riding on the momentum from their 2-0 win against the United Arab Emirates on Saturday, North Korea is eyeing to snatch up the three points that could put them in the finals for the first time since 1966.

South Korean coach Huh Jung-moo expects the match to be tightly played, and that the game will be decided by a narrow margin, maybe by one goal.

[Huh Jung-moo, S. Korean Coach]:

"We are the same nation even if we are divided. So it will be a good thing to play at the World Cup stage together. It will be a great honor and pride."

North Korea beat the United Arab Emirates in Pyongyang on Saturday 2-0 in its fifth World Cup qualifier.

North KoreaÕs record is 3 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss.

North and South Korea are still technically at war since the 1950-53 Korean War ended in a truce without a peace treaty.