North Korea has finished second in the 12th Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U-17 Championship final at Singapore's Jalan Besar Stadium on Sunday. It was defeated by Japan two-to-four in extra time.

Seeking to win the teen competition for the first time, the North Koreans squandered an early two-goal lead.

North Korea seemed headed for easy victory when O Jin Hyok scored first in the sixth minute of the first half and Ri Sang Chol made it two-zero at minute 24.

But in the second half, Japan staged a comeback with goals at the 12th minute and 33rd minute. In extra time, Japan’s Kawano Hiroki scored the two final goals.

It was North Korea's second second-place finish in the competition. By advancing to the semifinals, it earned a second-round berth in the International U-17 Championship to be held in Seoul next year.