North Korea's state-run television has for the first time ever broadcast a Western-made film, the British soccer movie Bend It Like Beckham, the BBC reports.

The original 112-minute film, starring Keira Knightley, was cut to 104 minutes, the BBC says, although it was unclear what parts had apparently been excised.

British Ambassador to South Korea Martin Uden says the British embassy arranged for the Dec. 26 showing of the 2002 film.

During the airing, a message was broadcast saying that it was being shown to mark the 10th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between North Korea and Britain, the BBC says.

The film is about an 18-year-old daughter of Punjabi Sikhs living in London who joins a local soccer team over the objections of her parents.

(Posted by Doug Stanglin)