TOKYO (Reuters) - North Korea drew 0-0 with hosts South Korea on Tuesday in the Asian Double 2022 World Cup and Asian Cup 2023 qualifiers in a spotlight match not aired live.

Countries at war are practically at the Kim Il-sung stadium in an immovable match, without South Korean fans or foreign media presence.

The match, described by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) as "one of the most awaited matches", could only be followed through a live commentary on the FIFA website, which is limited to substitutions and alerts.

The South Korean federation released a picture showing the stadiums empty of fans.

This is the first competitive match between the two neighbors in Pyongyang, and the South fans will have to wait a lot to prepare the tape to follow.

"North Korea promised to provide a CD with full scenes of the match before leaving our mission," the South Korean Unification Ministry said in a statement.

The mission had to leave their mobile phones at the South Korean embassy in Beijing (China) before leaving, and communicating with the team in Pyongyang is a very difficult task.

"There is nothing guaranteed in connection with communication, so we have to use anything that works at the moment," said an official of the South Korean federation, adding that they currently rely on e-mail.

On the eve of the match on Monday, South Korean coach Paulo Bento's press conference was attended by five North Korean journalists and two members of the South Mission who had to return to the hotel, where Internet access is available to post the details of the conference on the South Korean Football Association's website.

"We understand the situation of North Korea. We are not surprised," AFC Secretary-General Dato Windsor John told AFP.

The match was attended by FIFA president Jani Infantino, one of the few foreigners allowed to attend because North Korea refused to allow South fans to watch the game from the stands.

"It gives me great pleasure to be here," Infantino said after arriving at the airport, where North Korean Federation President Kim Jang-san welcomed him.

The two teams have seven points from three matches, while Turkmenistan and Lebanon, who visit Sri Lanka later on, have three points. The leaders of each of the eight groups qualify for the third round of the qualifiers.

South Korea and Tottenham Hotspur Sun Hyung-Min said the extraordinary match was only a step towards the World Cup. "We are not tourists, we will focus on the game," he said.

"I'm a little afraid to go to Pyongyang," defender Lee Jae-Aik said in an interview with reporters.

"FIFA has a unique strength in bringing people together in a spirit of celebration and fair play, and we hope that will be the case on October 15 in Pyongyang," a FIFA spokesman said.

One fan commented on social media: "An immovable match means nothing," while another said North Korea "should be sacked by the international federation" if the match is not transmitted directly.

For decades, North Korea has refused to host its southern neighbor, preferring to have their confrontations in China.

Their first encounter was a friendly in North Korea in 1990 to promote reunification. Both sides carried a unified flag like the entire peninsula. North Korea's first competitive football match was held in 2017 between two women's teams