The women’s team from North Korea, Naegohyang, has arrived in South Korea for the semi-finals of the Asian Champions League. The rare match between North and South Korean female football players is generating excitement in South Korea. The North Korean coach is focused on the game and not distracted by the thousands of expected fans.
The arrival of the North Korean players in South Korea has attracted a lot of attention as it is the first visit by a North Korean sports team in seven and a half years. The two countries technically remain at war since the 1950-1953 conflict ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty.
In the semi-final match against Suwon FC, South Korea has allocated $200,000 to support both teams since North Korean fans are not allowed to attend. Approximately 3,000 people are expected to support Naegohyang FC in a sold-out match.
The North Korean coach, Ri Yu Il, and the team captain, Kim Kyong Yong, remain focused on the game and are determined to meet the expectations of their people, parents, and families.
On the South Korean side, Suwon’s captain, Ji So-yun, acknowledges the media attention around the match and expects a strong performance from Naegohyang, almost equivalent to the North Korean national team. She emphasizes the need for her players to stand their ground and not back down in the face of physicality on the field.
The winning team will play the final match in Suwon on May 23, facing either Melbourne City from Australia or Verdy Beleza from Japan. Women’s football teams in North Korea are a significant sporting asset, with the country ranking 11th in the FIFA women’s world ranking, far ahead of the men’s team at 118th. This sporting event comes amidst tensions with South Korea, as Pyongyang ignores calls for dialogue from Seoul. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has called for strengthening frontline military units against the “enemy” in South Korea.
