Japan vs North Korea head-to-head record

Japan wins: 9
Draws: 4
North Korea wins: 7

20 meetings, 1975 to 2024Goals: Japan 20, North Korea 14

Japan and North Korea have met 20 times since 1975. Japan have won 9, North Korea 7, and 4 matches ended level. They last met on 21 March 2024, when Japan won 1–0 in World Cup qualifying.

The 20 meetings have produced 34 goals, 1.70 per game. The biggest win is Japan’s 4–1 in the Dynasty Cup in 1992. Japan have won the last two meetings.

Who has won more, Japan or North Korea?

All matches20 matches

9 Japan4 drawsNorth Korea 7

Competitive19 matches

9 Japan3 drawsNorth Korea 7

Friendlies1 match

0 Japan1 drawNorth Korea 0

Key numbers

Goals: Japan 20, North Korea 141.70 per game
First meeting: North Korea 1–0 JapanAFC Asian Cup qualifying, 17 Jun 1975
Most recent: Japan 1–0 North KoreaWorld Cup qualifying, 21 Mar 2024
Japan’s biggest win: Japan 4–1 North KoreaDynasty Cup, 26 Aug 1992
North Korea’s biggest win: North Korea 2–0 JapanWorld Cup qualifying, 25 Jun 1989
Most goals in a meeting: Japan 4–1 North KoreaDynasty Cup, 26 Aug 1992
Current run: Japan, 2 wins in a row
Biggest upset: North Korea 1–0 JapanEAFF Championship, 31 Jul 2005Winner’s rating-based win expectancy: 12%
TFN Elo rating now: Japan 1963 (13th), North Korea 1481 (109th)How the rating works

Last five meetings

21 Mar 2024
Japan1North Korea0
World Cup qualifying
Tokyo, Japan
9 Dec 2017
Japan1North Korea0
EAFF Championship
Chōfu, Japan
2 Aug 2015
North Korea2Japan1
EAFF Championship
Wuhan, China (neutral)
15 Nov 2011
North Korea1Japan0
World Cup qualifying
Pyongyang, North Korea
2 Sept 2011
Japan1North Korea0
World Cup qualifying
Saitama, Japan

Who has had the upper hand over time?

The line climbs with every Japan win and drops with every North Korea win, so its height shows who has won more meetings up to that point.

Above the line: Japan have won more Below: North Korea have won more

Level

Japan lead by 2 wins after the latest meeting. The biggest lead was 2, held by North Korea from 30 December 1980.

Every meeting on one timeline

Japan wins

Draws

North Korea wins

Larger dots mark bigger winning margins. Hover a dot for the result.

Home, away and neutral

In Japan's home games

7 matches

610

JapanDrawsNorth Korea

In North Korea's home games

4 matches

022

JapanDrawsNorth Korea

At neutral venues

9 matches

315

JapanDrawsNorth Korea

Record by competition

Record by competition
Competition	Played	Japan	Draws	North Korea	Goals
World Cup qualifying	11	7	1	3	12–6
EAFF Championship	4	1	1	2	3–4
Dynasty Cup	2	1	0	1	4–2
AFC Asian Cup	1	0	1	0	1–1
AFC Asian Cup qualifying	1	0	0	1	0–1
Friendly	1	0	1	0	0–0

Meetings by decade

Japan wins Draws North Korea wins

Meetings by decade
Decade	Played	Japan	Draws	North Korea	Goals
1970s	2	0	1	1	1
1980s	5	2	1	2	7
1990s	4	2	1	1	11
2000s	4	2	1	1	8
2010s	4	2	0	2	6
2020s	1	1	0	0	1

Longest runs

Longest runs
Longest run of	Japan	North Korea
Wins in a row	31993 to 2005	22011 to 2015
Unbeaten meetings	51992 to 2005	31975 to 1980

Top scorers in Japan vs North Korea

1Kazuyoshi MiuraJapan2
2Masashi NakayamaJapan2
3Masashi OguroJapan2

Scorer records exist for 11 of the 20 meetings, mostly competitive matches. Own goals are not credited to a player.

Questions answered

How many times have Japan and North Korea played each other?

20 times, starting on 17 June 1975. 19 of those meetings were competitive and 1 were friendlies.

Who has won more matches between Japan and North Korea?

Japan, with 9 wins to 7. 4 matches ended level.

What is the biggest win in Japan vs North Korea?

Japan’s 4–1 win in the Dynasty Cup on 26 August 1992 in Beijing.

When did Japan and North Korea last play?

On 21 March 2024 in Tokyo, when Japan won 1–0 in World Cup qualifying.

What is the competitive record between Japan and North Korea?

In 19 competitive matches, Japan have 9 wins, North Korea have 7, and 3 ended level.

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Every Japan vs North Korea result

All 20 Competitive 19 Friendlies 1

Every Japan vs North Korea result
Date	Home	Score	Away	Competition	Venue
21 Mar 2024	Japan	1–0	North Korea	World Cup qualifying	Tokyo, Japan
9 Dec 2017	Japan	1–0	North Korea	EAFF Championship	Chōfu, Japan
2 Aug 2015	North Korea	2–1	Japan	EAFF Championship	Wuhan, China (neutral)
15 Nov 2011	North Korea	1–0	Japan	World Cup qualifying	Pyongyang, North Korea
2 Sept 2011	Japan	1–0	North Korea	World Cup qualifying	Saitama, Japan
17 Feb 2008	Japan	1–1	North Korea	EAFF Championship	Chongqing, China (neutral)
31 Jul 2005	North Korea	1–0	Japan	EAFF Championship	Daejeon, South Korea (neutral)
8 Jun 2005	North Korea	0–2	Japan	World Cup qualifying	Bangkok, Thailand (neutral)
9 Feb 2005	Japan	2–1	North Korea	World Cup qualifying	Saitama, Japan
21 Oct 1993	North Korea	0–3	Japan	World Cup qualifying	Doha, Qatar (neutral)
1 Nov 1992	Japan	1–1	North Korea	AFC Asian Cup	Hiroshima, Japan
26 Aug 1992	Japan	4–1	North Korea	Dynasty Cup	Beijing, China (neutral)
31 Jul 1990	Japan	0–1	North Korea	Dynasty Cup	Beijing, China (neutral)
25 Jun 1989	North Korea	2–0	Japan	World Cup qualifying	Pyongyang, North Korea
4 Jun 1989	Japan	2–1	North Korea	World Cup qualifying	Tokyo, Japan
30 Apr 1985	North Korea	0–0	Japan	World Cup qualifying	Pyongyang, North Korea
21 Mar 1985	Japan	1–0	North Korea	World Cup qualifying	Tokyo, Japan
30 Dec 1980	North Korea	1–0	Japan	World Cup qualifying	So Kon Po, Hong Kong (neutral)
23 Aug 1979	North Korea	0–0	Japan	Friendly	Pyongyang, North Korea
17 Jun 1975	North Korea	1–0	Japan	AFC Asian Cup qualifying	So Kon Po, Hong Kong (neutral)