North Korea striker to play for South Korean club

A South Korean club says it has signed North Korea striker Jong Tae Se from Cologne. The Suwon Samsung Bluewings say they have agreed to pay the German club

Jong Tae Se was born and raised in Japan, but holds a North Korean passport :: Kin Cheung/AP

A South Korean club says it has signed North Korea striker Jong Tae Se from Cologne.

The Suwon Samsung Bluewings say they have agreed to pay the German club $394,000 for Jong, but declined to say how much they will pay the 27-year-old forward who played for North Korea at the 2010 World Cup.

Bluewings official Lee Ho-seung says Jong had sought the transfer and the negotiations lasted several months.

Jong was born and raised in Japan, but holds a North Korean passport. Jong will become the fourth such player to join South Korea's K-League, according to league officials.

He began his professional career with Japanese club Kawasaki Frontale in 2006 before signing with German second-division club VfL Bochum in 2010 and joining Cologne last year.