[3][4] Im and the others trained twice a day starting at 6:00 a.m. and were under other restrictions which included being unmarried, no smoking, no drinking, and (for the last six months) being in bed by 10:00 p.m.[4] In early 1965, the North Korean leagues were suspended to allow the roster to focus solely on the task of making the World Cup.
[4] Im and the rest of the players gained experience by playing a number of international matches against nations including North Vietnam, Indonesia, Laos, Cambodia and China.
[4][9] At the World Cup, the North Korean team played their home games at Ayresome Park in Middlesbrough, England, as part of Group 4 in the tournament which included the Soviet Union, Chile and Italy.
[13] The team eventually lost 5–3 in the quarterfinals to Portugal;[10] the North Koreans had opened the scoring with a goal by Pak Seung-zin in the first minute, with Im having made the assist.
[15] For the team's performance at the World Cup, all the players who appeared in a match were given the title of Merited Athlete, the second-highest honor for sportspeople in North Korea.