A North Korean women’s football team, Naegohyang Women’s FC, arrived in South Korea on Sunday for a rare visit that drew strong public interest. It is the first time athletes from the North have traveled to the South in eight years; the trip was approved under inter‑Korean exchange rules despite currently strained relations.
The squad flew in from China to Incheon International Airport. The delegation includes 27 players and 12 staff. They are in South Korea to play the Asian Champions League semifinal against Suwon FC Women in Suwon. All 7,087 tickets released to the public for Wednesday’s match sold out within a day.
The semifinal winner will meet either Melbourne City or Tokyo Verdy in the final, also scheduled in Suwon on Saturday. The North Korean team is expected to return home shortly after the competition if eliminated, though its stay is permitted through the weekend.
Seoul’s Unification Ministry has allocated 300 million won (about €172,000 / $200,000) from an inter‑Korean cooperation fund to help finance cheering squads for both sides. Officials say the event is intended to promote mutual understanding between the divided Koreas, which have been separated since the 1950–53 Korean War.
The visit comes amid political tensions: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has recently described the South as hostile and has downplayed reunification, while South Korean President Lee Jae‑myung has pushed for improved ties. South Korea’s Unification Minister Chung Dong‑young is reported to be considering attending the match.
Under Asian Football Confederation rules, the Korean Unification flag commonly seen at joint sporting events will not be used because the fixture is between clubs rather than national teams.