INCHEON: North Korea's victories at the Asian Games are a new example of how sport, politics and diplomacy are often mixed in dealings with Pyongyang, and by the isolated state's propaganda machine.

Here are five key dates: 1966 -- North Korea becomes the first Asian team to reach the quarter-finals of football's World Cup. The North's state media said the performance "stunned the world" and a 1-0 victory over Italy to reach the final eight made the Koreans many people's sentimental favourites.