BY OSABUOHIEN VIVIAN-ROSE
A women’s football club from North Korea is set to make a rare trip to South Korea, marking a significant moment in inter-Korean sports relations. Naegohyang Women’s FC will face Suwon FC Women on May 20 in the semi-finals of the Asian Women’s Champions League.
According to South Korea’s Unification Ministry, the North Korean side will travel with a delegation of 27 players and 12 officials. The team is expected to arrive on May 17 ahead of the match, which will be held in Suwon.
This visit is particularly notable as it will be the first time in eight years that North Korean athletes have entered South Korea. The last such occasion was in 2018, when North Korea participated in the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, even forming a joint women’s ice hockey team with the South.
The upcoming match comes amid efforts by South Korean President Lee Jae-myung to ease tensions between the two countries. Relations have been strained in recent years, with North Korea previously describing the South as its “most hostile state” and abandoning reunification dialogue.
Officials say the South Korean government will take a limited role in the event since it is part of an international club competition rather than a formal inter-Korean engagement. However, authorities will still provide logistical support to ensure the North Korean delegation’s smooth stay.
The semi-final clash is scheduled to kick off at 7 p.m. local time. The winner will advance to the final on May 23, where they will meet either Melbourne City or Tokyo Verdy. If the North Korean team fails to progress, they are expected to return home the following day.
