The result means China and Australia both miss out on competing in London next year, with the hosts falling to a 1-0 defeat against Japan.

Australia beat South Korea 2-1 but it was not enough to send them through to the Olympic Games.

It was a bitter blow to the Chinese, whose failure meant that they will miss out on the Olympic Games for the first time in history.

A brace from Ra Un-Sim and further strikes from Yun Song-Mi, Choe Mi-Gyong and Kim Un-Hwa gave the North Koreans an emphatic victory to ensure they qualified for London 2012.

It is all the more important for them as they have been barred by FIFA from competing in the 2015 World Cup in China after five of their players were found to have taken illegal substances during this year's tournament in Germany.

World Cup winners Japan finished the tournament unbeaten after their win over China, achieved thanks to Asuna Tanaka.

Lisa da Vanna and Tameka Butt were on target for Australia in their win over South Korea, who responded through Kwon Hah-Nul.

Japan and North Korea will join hosts Great Britain, Brazil, Colombia, France and Sweden at the Olympic Games next year.

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