SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea scored a late goal for a 1-0 win over North Korea on Wednesday as soccer briefly took the focus off heightening political tension in the region.

South Korea reclaimed the top place in Group B of Asian World Cup qualifying with 11 points, one ahead of North Korea.

It was a good-natured match, and more entertaining than the four recent draws in the derby clashes. However, North Korea coach Kim Jong Hun was visibly upset after the match, following Kim Chi-woo's late goal.

The coach suggested food poisoning had weakened his team and disputing the referee's ruling on a goal-line decision, before refusing to answer questions.

"This was a game that shouldn't have been played. Jong Tae Se and goalkeeper Ri Myung Guk shouldn't have played," he said. "After eating at the hotel provided by South Korea, they contracted diarrhea."

His counterpart had no complaints.

"This was a vital result for us," South Korea coach Huh Jung-moo said. "We played well and the players didn't lose their concentration for the whole game and kept going until the end."

No sooner had supporters at the Seoul World Cup stadium applauded both national anthems than North Korea almost took the lead. Hong Yong Jo's fierce shot looked destined for the top corner before South Korean goalkeeper Lee Woon-jae just managed to make the save.

The second half was played at a higher tempo as both teams looked for the win.

Four minutes after the break, North Korea's star striker Jong Tae-se thought he had scored with a close-range header until Lee blocked on the line.

North Korea coach Kim was incensed by the call.

"Shouldn't the referee be fair? He ignored the fact that the ball clearly crossed the line," Kim said. No replay was shown on the big screen at the stadium.

The week leading up to the Seoul qualifying match has been overshadowed by the reaction to North Korea's plans to send a communications satellite into orbit between April 4-8.

The United States, South Korea and Japan suspect the reclusive country is using the launch to test long-range missile technology.

North Korea countered by accusing the United States of spying on the site of an impending rocket launch and threatened to shoot down any U.S. planes that intrude into its airspace.