North Korean side claims Asian title in rare South Korean visit
The win qualifies the club for the FIFA Women’s Champions Cup and highlights the complex diplomatic landscape surrounding the tournament in Suwon.
Naegohyang Women’s FC secured the Asian Women’s Champions League title on Saturday, defeating Japan’s Tokyo Verdy Beleza 1-0 in Suwon, South Korea. The victory marks the first occasion in eight years that a North Korean sports team has visited the South, occurring against a backdrop of technical hostilities that have persisted since 1950. Captain Kim Kyong Yong scored the decisive goal one minute before half-time, securing the trophy for the Pyongyang-based club.
The match featured physical challenges but concluded with a display of sportsmanship, as players embraced at the final whistle. Coach Ri Yu Il was observed weeping on the bench as the result was confirmed. Naegohyang, whose name translates to “My Hometown,” had previously beaten Tokyo Verdy Beleza 4-0 in the first round of the competition held in Myanmar, though the Japanese side had dominated that earlier encounter.
Interest in the visit was significant, with 7,087 general admission tickets for the semifinal against Suwon FC Women selling out within hours. However, the final saw swaths of empty seats, with tickets still available shortly before kickoff. Approximately 3,000 spectators from civic groups backed by Seoul’s Ministry of Unification attended, supported by South Korean fans who used traditional drums to cheer. No official North Korean supporters were present due to travel restrictions.
The victory qualifies Naegohyang for next year’s FIFA Women’s Champions Cup. North Korea’s women’s football program remains a strong international asset, with the national side ranked 11th in the FIFA world rankings, significantly higher than the men’s team at 118th. Tokyo Verdy Beleza, winners of the competition’s forerunner in 2019, had pressed for an equaliser in the second half but could not break through the North Korean defence.
The event drew commentary from local observers regarding its diplomatic implications. Cheong Wook-sik, director of the South Korean NGO Peace Network, described the visit as emotionally overwhelming, noting the paradox of being close neighbours yet hostile. Choi Hyo-kwan, a 94-year-old attendee originally from the North, expressed hope for health and victory, reflecting the personal stakes involved in the rare cross-border sporting engagement.
