SEOUL -- Despite its international isolation and the impact of economic sanctions, North Korea is becoming increasingly active in international soccer, showing a growing interest in regional and global competitions and sending players to overseas clubs.

Most strikingly, North Korea's Han Kwang Song made his debut for Cagliari in Italy's Serie A competition on April 2 -- the first player from his country to appear in a top-class European league. Han scored on his second appearance a week later with a strike that beat Torino's Joe Hart, who is also England's goalkeeper.

Equally importantly for the long-term development of the game, the North Korean teams April 25 and Kigwancha played out a 1-1 tie in Pyongyang on April 18 in the first round of the AFC Cup, Asia's second most important regional competition.

Former North Korea World Cup star An Yeong Hak says qualification for 2022 is "possible."

The match, which was watched by almost 10,000 fans, marked the first North Korean participation in the annual tournament, which involves clubs from all over Asia. But former North Korean international An Yeong Hak said North Korea's top priority is regular involvement in the soccer World Cup, held every four years.

An played in the North Korean midfield in 2010 tournament, when the team lost all three games it played in South Africa. It was the country's first appearance at the World Cup since 1966, when the little-known team shocked the soccer world by defeating Italy to reach the quarterfinals.

North Korea failed to qualify for the 2014 competition in Brazil, and qualification for the 2018 tournament in Russia is already out of the question. But the tournament awarded to Qatar four years later is regarded as a realistic target.

"The 2022 World Cup is possible," said An. "More than that, the possibility to qualify is high. We have enough talent to do so. With more international experience, then we can have success, and so it is good that Han Kwang Song is in Italy."

For North Korea, Han's exploits are historic. Italy's Serie A is regarded as one of the toughest league competitions in the world, on a significantly higher level than the Swiss and second-tier German club competitions in which North Korean players have appeared in the past.

"I am very happy with my first goal in Serie A," Han told Italian media after scoring his first goal. "I thank the team, the coach and teammates. I feel at home in Cagliari. "I tried to follow the coach's instructions, I get on well with my teammates," said Han, who was already highly regarded in youth circles in Asia, and was part of a North Korean team that won the Asian under 16 championship in 2014.

Han said his objectives were to learn from his Italian experience, and to make as much progress as possible. But it is not always easy for North Korean players to progress overseas. In 2016, highly-rated youngster Choe Song Hyok signed for Italy's Fiorentina, but departed five months later without playing a game. His contract was cancelled amid reports, debated in Italy's parliament, that 70% of his salary was going to the government in Pyongyang.

Salary tap

The Choe experience suggested that players were no different from around 100,000 North Koreans sent overseas to work, most commonly in the Middle East, Russia and China, according to human rights activists quoted by the New York Times. With the country suffering under the weight of international sanctions because of its controversial nuclear weapons program, receiving hard currency from overseas can be a much-needed source of income.

An, however, said he did not hand over any of his salary to the North Korean government when he played in Japan and South Korea. "I think it depends on the individual but I always kept all of my salary," he said.

Yoon Tae-jo, a player agent with experience working with North Korean soccer players, said that the practice does happen. "It can happen, but it is done on a case-by-case basis and does not happen to every player," he said.

"They often do have to send money back home, but it is not to the government but to the clubs they previously belonged to in North Korea." Yoon added: "Whatever happens, they usually keep more than half of their salary."

It is easier for the authorities in Pyongyang to send young players to youth teams in Italy and Spain for short spells. Six of the boys that won the 2014 under 16 title already had European experience.

For those not sent overseas, the Pyongyang International Football School, established in 2013, at times invites foreign coaches to train the best young players in the country, who have been selected from schools nationwide.

"The idea is that if good young players can grow up with experience of playing overseas, or at least experience overseas methods, then it will help" said Yoon. "North Korea's weakness has never been the players, but it was the players not having international experience."

At the soccer school, girls play alongside boys until the age of 15. It seems to have paid dividends.

In October 2016, North Korea's women defeated Japan in the final of the under 17 World Cup in Jordan. In December, the under 20 women's team overcame France 3-1 in Papau New Guinea to win the under 20 World Cup. It was an unprecedented achievement for a nation to hold two World Cup titles at the same time.

"It's a feat that's never been achieved before," said women's under 20 coach Hwang Yong Bong. "I'm delighted with our victory, but we can't stop here. We have to keep on working to win more titles."

An agreed. "We are very proud of the women," he said. "To win two World Cups is a fantastic achievement and it shows that we have lots of talent in the country with both women and men. We have to keep moving forward."