North Korea
| North Korea | |
 | |
| Continent | Asia |
| Population | 25,000,000 |
| Registered players | 1,130 |
| Referees | 30 |
| Rinks | 24 |
| National teams | Men's Women's Junior |
| National federation | Ice Hockey Association of the DPR Korea |
| IIHF since | August 8, 1963 |
| IIHF ranking | 45 |
| Top league | North Korean Championship |
| Current champion | Pyongchol |
North Korea is a country in East Asia. Pyongyang is the capital and largest city.
Overview
National Teams
Domestic Teams
See Category:Ice hockey teams in North Korea
Arenas
See Category:Arenas in North Korea
Competitions
| Competition | Founded | Folded | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Korean Championship | 1956 | - | National championship |
| North Korean Women's Championship | - | National women's championship |
History of hockey in North Korea
Ice hockey in North Korea first caught on during the 1950s when Soviet and Chinese workers demonstrated the game in Pyongyang. The Ice Hockey Association of the DPR Korea was founded in 1955, and the country joined the IIHF on August 8, 1963.[1]
The North Korean Championship was first contested in 1956. There were around 30 active North Korean clubs during the mid-1980s, with the top eight competing for the national title. The Pyongyang and Pyongchol teams have dominated the championship over the years.
The men's national team made its international debut at the 1974 World Championship Pool C, finishing in last place. They lost their first game to Italy 11-2, but managed to defeat China 3-2 for their first international win. Their best finish was fifth in Pool C in 1990. North Korea has competed exclusively in the lower pools, winning the Division III tournaments in 2008, 2010, and 2015.[2]
The women's national team first participated in the IIHF World Women's Championships in 1999. They won the Division IIA tournament in 2012. The North Korean women played in the Asian Winter Games in 2003, 2007, and 2011, finishing in fourth place in all three of their appearances. They participated in the IIHF Women's Challenge Cup of Asia in 2010, finishing third.
The junior national team appeared at the IIHF World U20 Championships for the first time in 1988, finishing seventh in Pool C. Their best finish was eighth in Pool B in 1992. The U18 national team regularly participated in the IIHF Asian Oceanic U18 Championships, which existed from 1984-2002. They won gold in Division I in 1987 and 2000, and in Division II in 1999.
