JOHANNESBURG  North Korea’s soccer team arrived Tuesday at the World Cup, where it will be supported by cheerleaders recruited from China, led by a forward born in Japan and prohibited at home from receiving free television coverage provided by fellow competitor and political rival South Korea.

There is much intrigue surrounding the mostly unknown team from North Korea. One of the world’s most closed nations will open slightly to participate in the world’s biggest sporting event, even as it is being accused by South Korea of sinking one of its warships in March and killing 46 sailors.

As the lowest-ranked of the 32 nations in the field, North Korea faces an imposing challenge to become one of two teams advancing from the so-called Group of Death, which also includes Brazil, a five-time champion; Portugal, a 2006 semifinalist; and the Ivory Coast, an African power led by one of the world’s best forwards, Didier Drogba.

Yet no country enters the tournament, which runs from June 11 to July 11, with a bigger reputation for doing the unexpected. North Korea’s last appearance in the World Cup  in 1966  resulted in one of soccer’s greatest feats, a shocking 1-0 victory over Italy, whose humbled players were reportedly pelted with rotten fruit upon returning home in disgrace.