London - Former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson is in talks to manage North Korea at next summer's World Cup, according to a report in the Guardian newspaper.

Eriksson, who led England at the 2002 and 2006 World Cups, is reported to be heading to North Korea later this week for talks, with the North Korean embassy in London suggesting an announcement will be made in two to three weeks.

North Korea qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 1966, but coach Kim Jong-Hun has been criticised for his defensive approach, with his side scoring just seven goals in their last eight qualifiers.

"Despite reaching the World Cup, we are still far from becoming a world-class team," said Pak Doo-Ik, who scored North Korea's winner against Italy at the 1966 World Cup.

"We will have our work cut out and there are still huge areas in which to improve, including in defence, creating chances and putting them away."

Eriksson, who coached Mexico earlier in the qualifying series, is presently director of football at League Two side Notts County. (dpa)