N Korea qualified for qfs in 1966 leh lol. not say qualify for
world cup finals, but QFS of the world cup mind you. N koreans then
is already a powerhouse in Asia.
Singapore, not even the strongest in SE Asia. probably the
strongest is thailand. even vietnam is a close second.
Thailand is and probably will be the strongest in SEA for the
next few years.
You look at the way they play their football these past few
years - improved smooth passing and imaginative tactics largely due
to the influences of Peter Reid and other foreign coaches before
him.(Bryan Robson taking over soon too - but that's another
story)
Coupled with some good individual talents (none foreign by the
way), they will dominate their SEA opponents like Vietnam,
Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia for the next few years. 
