Jon Myong Hwa(L) of DPR Korea shoots during the Group A match against Thailand in the AFC Women's Asian Cup in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 20, 2010. DPR Korea won 3-0. [Xinhua/Han Yuqing]

Reigning champions DPR Korea beat Thailand 3-0 in their Group A opener at the AFC (Asian Football Confederation) Women's Asian Cup here on Thursday.

"Our players are quite young and lack experience," said Kim Kwang Min, coach of the DPR Korea team. "It's a tough game, and we didn't perform our best."

DPR Korea opened the scoring at the very beginning of the match as forward Kim Yong Ae made a header in the second minute and only two minutes later forward Jon Myong Hua's tight-angle shot went into the bottom left of the net.

Thailand gradually found their rhythm and didn't give the defending champions too many chances in the match with their well-organized defense. They also launched several threatening counter attacks.

However, their hope of a comeback was killed off when DPR Korea's midfielder Jo Yun Mi netted in Yun Song Mi's fine delivery in the 74th minute.

"We are a very young team," said Thailand coach Jatuporn Pramolbal. "It's hard to perform well when playing with the strongest team in Asia in our first match."

The AFC women's Asian Cup is being held in the soccer-mad city of Chengdu from May 19-30. The top three finishers will qualify for next year's World Cup in Germany.

Group A also features Japan and Myanmar. Japan will take on Myanmar later the day.

DPR Korea have become Asia's dominant force in women's soccer over the past decade and are eyeing their fourth title in five editions after winning in 2001, 2003 and 2008, when they beat China 2-1 in the final in Ho Chi Minh City.