North Korea’s under-20 women's soccer team has advanced into the semifinals of the 2006 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Championship under way in Russia.

The North’s team clinched a position in the semifinals after beating France 2-to-1 during a match Sunday in Saint Petersburg.

It is the first time for North Korea’s women soccer team to advance into the semifinals of an international soccer event.

The team will face Brazil on Thursday in Moscow.