JOHANNESBURG - DPR Korean midfielder An Yong-Hak believed his team are mentally tougher than five-time World Cup winners Brazil.

The DPR Korean team will play their first match of the 2010 World Cup against Brazil in a Group G match in Johannesburg on Tuesday.

"The mentality for victory, strong organisational power and unity in fighting - these attributes are further ahead in us than the Brazil team, I think," An, who plays for Japanese club Omiya Ardija, told South Africa's SuperSport TV.

DPR Korea did not concede a goal in six games in the third-round group stage during qualifying, and a hard-fought goalless draw in Saudi Arabia in the final round secured qualification.

"We are grouped with Brazil, Portugal and Cote d"Ivoire, but we will do our best with strong mentality and organisational power in order to send good news to our country and people," An added.