SHANGHAI - The Democratic People's Republic of Korea's (DPRK) participation in the World Cup after 44 years is so amazing that team pins have become a hot item at souvenir shops in the Expo Garden.

The pins, priced 26 at yuan ($3.80) apiece, are reported to be a good souvenir for fans to remember the DPRK's second appearance at a World Expo, as well as its team qualifying for a World Cup for the first time since 1966.

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"It is rare to have the DPRK participate in a World Cup and it performed so well that it is commemorative," said Wang Lu, who had just tried to purchase a pin from a souvenir shop following the team's brilliant match with Brazil, only to be disappointed because they had already sold out.

"Since people do not know whether North Korea will play in the next World Cup, they buy the pins to remember its participation in 2010," said Zhang Hui, assistant manager of World Cup souvenirs in the Expo Garden, where pins soon ran out.

"I have been approached by many customers who have inquired about the availability of pins for North Korea," Zhang said on Wednesday. "The last pin was sold shortly after our store opened this morning and there will be no more available."

The shop has been besieged by souvenir hunters since it opened on June 11, the same day the World Cup began.

One customer even spent more than 6,000 yuan on World Cup memorabilia and pins for popular teams, such as England and Brazil, sold out in the first two days, Zhang said.

He is now faced with a stock shortage at a time when customers continue to ask when the next batch of pins is due to arrive.

According to Zhang, only 600 pins were produced globally for each team in South Africa and only 100 pins were allocated for sale in China.

"Other souvenirs, such as Zakumi, the official mascot for the 2010 World Cup, will be available at the end of this week," he said.

A souvenir pack of 32 pins for each team is due to hit the market on June 20, priced at 888 yuan each, he said.

While it is too pricey for many people's pockets, the cost of these souvenirs is apparently lower than in South Africa.

"A pin will be sold at $6 in South Africa, about 1.5 times as much as it is in China," Zhang said.