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Historic match draws thousands despite stormy weather
Over 5,000 spectators braved heavy rain and strong winds in Suwon, south of Seoul, on Wednesday night to witness a rare inter-Korean football match. The visiting North Korean Naegohyang Women's Football Club faced South Korea's Suwon FC Women in the semi-final of the Asian Women's Champions League.
Unconventional cheers and political tensions
Hundreds of South Korean fans chanted "Naegohyang," the name of the North Korean team, in a display organized by local NGOs. The gesture aimed to foster unity, though the match occurred against a backdrop of strained relations. North Korea, under Kim Jong Un, has intensified missile tests and abandoned its reunification goal, designating South Korea as a "hostile state" in 2023.
North Korea secures semi-final victory
The North Korean team, the first athletes to travel south since 2018, won 2-1 with goals from Choe Kum Ok and Kim Kyong Yong in the second half. They will face Japan's Tokyo Verdy Beleza in the final tonight. North Korea's strong performance aligns with its reputation in women's football, currently ranked 11th globally by FIFA and second in Asia after Japan.
State-backed success amid economic struggles
North Korea's focus on women's football stems from a top-down policy initiated by Kim Jong Un, who pledged to build a "sporting powerhouse" after taking power in 2011. The Pyongyang International Football School, established in 2013, serves as a training ground for elite players. Despite economic hardships and sanctions, the regime prioritizes sports as a propaganda tool and a means to elevate athletes' social status.
"North Korea is highly focused on discovering and training young football talent," said Kim Yong-hyun, a professor of North Korean Studies at Dongguk University in Seoul.
Kim Yong-hyun
Women's football outshines men's in North Korea
North Korean women's teams have achieved notable success, including victories at the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup and the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup. Analysts attribute this to the resilience and toughness of female athletes, who often serve as breadwinners in a challenging economic environment. In contrast, North Korean male athletes struggle with physical limitations due to inadequate nutrition.
"North Korean women are very tough and resilient," said Han Seol-song, a former North Korean athlete and defector.
Han Seol-song
Hope for unity amid division
The match has sparked cautious optimism about sports as a bridge between the two Koreas. Choi Jong-dae, a 91-year-old attendee separated from his family during the Korean War, expressed emotional connection to the players. "I feel like these North Korean players are like my granddaughters," he said. Meanwhile, South Korea's Unification Ministry funded a cheering squad for the final, though the decision has drawn criticism.
