A North Korean Under-19 football team has been blocked from entering Australia over the country's nuclear weapons programme.
The youth side was due in Victoria on November 8 for an Asian Football Confederation championship qualifier after being drawn into a group alongside Australia, Hong Kong and the Northern Mariana Islands.
But the Australian federal government has opted against granting visas to North Korea's young team and the game will instead be played at a neutral venue.
Foreign affairs minister Julie Bishop cited North Korea's "illegal nuclear and missile development programmes" when explaining the decision to move the match away from Australian territory.
“The government has decided to not allow the North Korean U19 soccer team to enter Australia for the Asian Football Confederation U19 Championship Qualifiers,” Bishop told SBS World News.
“Hosting the team would be contrary to the Government’s strong opposition to North Korea’s illegal nuclear and missile development programmes.
“It would also be inconsistent with our efforts to increase diplomatic and economic pressure on Pyongyang to comply with UN Security Council resolutions.”
Football Federation Australia said: “Football Federation Australia is disappointed that qualifying fixtures for the Asian Football Confederation U-19 Championship ... are now likely to be relocated outside Australia due to the Federal Government’s decision not to grant visas to the team from DPR Korea.
“FFA respects the Australian Government’s responsibility to make decisions on visa applications.”
