North Korean women draw with South Korea in Rio qualifying game

North Korea's women soccer team fills up custom forms in front of a globe structure as they prepare for departure from Pyongyang to Beijing on Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2016, at Pyongyang's International Airport in Pyongyang, North Korea. (AP / Wong Maye-E)

OSAKA, Japan -- North Korea's women's soccer team drew 1-1 with South Korea in Japan, in its first game of Asian qualifying for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics on Monday.

Jung Sul-bin put South Korea ahead in the 32nd minute but North Korea's Kim Un-ju equalized with 10 minutes remaining.

The North Koreans were allowed to enter Japan despite an entry ban introduced by the Japanese government following Pyongyang's recent nuclear test and rocket launch.

Japan implemented a set of new sanctions against North Korea earlier this month, including a ban on entry to the country by North Korean nationals.

But the Japanese government allowed the team's entry, saying politics should not interfere with sports.

In other matches, Australia beat host Japan 3-1 and China defeated Vietnam 2-0.