China's national football team qualified for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup partly because this East Asian neighbour slipped up in a decisive qualifier against the Philippines. The same side beat China 2 to 0 at the 2005 East Asian Football Championship and denied them a second-place ranking in 2016 qualifying. Which team was it?

Question

Accepted Answer

North Korea. The China national football team beat North Korea 2-0 in the 2005 East Asian Football Championship final. Years later, North Korea's shock loss to the Philippines helped the China national football team secure a place at the 2019 AFC Asian Cup, where China then beat the Philippines 3-0.