South Korea remain at the top of Group 3 in the third round of AFC qualifying for the 2010 World Cup after a goalless draw with border rivals North Korea in China.

The match, originally scheduled for Pyeongyang but moved to Beijing after the North's refusal to play the South's anthem and raise their flag, was a cautious affair with the South's Premiership big-guns Park Ji-sung, Seol Ki-hyeon and Lee Young-pyo handled well by their opponents.

North Korea's Jong Tae-se, a South Korean citizen playing for Japanese side Kawasaki Frontale, was expected to provide the main goal threat however Suwon defender Lee Jung-soo limited him to a peripheral role in the game.

The draw leaves South Korea top of the group on four points, level with the North but ahead on goal difference. With a home match against Jordan in the next qualifier on May 31st, Huh Jung-moo's side are well placed to reach the final round of qualification.

North Korea 0-0 South Korea

South Korean line-up
Jung Sung-ryong, Oh Bum-suk, Lee Jung-soo, Kang Min-soo, Lee Young-pyo, Jo Won-hee, Park Joo-young, Kim Nam-il (Kim Doo-hyun 24), Seol Ki-hyeon (Han Tae-yoo 81), Jo Jae-jin (Yeom Ki-hoon 45), Park Ji-sung