North Korea 0 South Korea 1: Ri Yong Chol nets own goal as South beat North in grudge match with tensions between the two countries at an all-time high

SOUTH KOREA edged out North Korea 1-0 at the East Asian Championship on Tuesday in possibly the world's biggest grudge match.

North Korea defender Ri Yong Chol scored an own-goal in the 64th-minute to give the South Koreans the victory.

The game was played amidst escalating tensions between the two nations.

In recent months, North Korea have performed a series of missile tests with South Korea and the United States undertaking military exercises.

Despite that, both national anthems were observed respectfully at Ajinomoto Stadium.

North Korea coach Jorn Andersen said: "This was a special game for us, for the players, for the country."

"I think in the first 30 minutes they were a little bit nervous, they were not as free as in the game against Japan."

North Korea, which lost to Japan 1-0 in its opening match, played an unchanged team against South Korea.

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On the defeats, Anderson claimed: "We played a very good first game, but we don't have as many good players as Japan or South Korea or China.

"We have a small group with not so many quality players, so it is always difficult for me to change too many players."

North Korean nationals are currently banned from entering Japan as part of sanctions against Pyongyang.

However, special visas were issued to the players at the Japanese embassy in Beijing this week in order to take part in the tournament.

The round-robin championship features Japan, China, North Korea and South Korea and concludes on Saturday, December 16.