DPR Korea held India 1-1 in the Group G preliminary round of the Asia Cup qualifying match at the Nehru stadium in Margao, Goa, on Sunday.
India led 1-0 through striker I M Vijayan in the 30th minute. The visitors, who controlled the second half, restored parity in the 84th minute through Choe Hyon U.
Thus, Korea, who beat India 2-0 at home, qualified into the next round to fill the last spot of Group D along with Iran, Jordan and Lebanon.
The visitors, who knew a draw would be enough for them to qualify for the next round, played cautiously in the first half.