North Korea's women's football club Naegohyang will compete in South Korea against Suwon FC Women on May 20 in the Asian Women's Champions League semi-final held in Suwon [1, 2]. The North Korean delegation includes 27 players and 12 staff members who arrived in South Korea by May 17 [1, 2]. This visit marks the first time North Korean athletes have crossed into South Korea since 2018, breaking an eight-year hiatus [1, 2].
Naegohyang is playing in the AFC Women's Champions League for the first time after a 3-0 quarter-final win over Ho Chi Minh City [1]. The semi-final loser returns home on May 21 as there will be no third-place match [2]. The winner will advance to the final on May 23 in Suwon, facing either Australia’s Melbourne City or Japan’s Tokyo Verdy Beleza [1, 2].
The two Koreas remain technically at war since the 1950-53 Korean War ended with an armistice and not a peace treaty [1, 2]. North Korean athletes last competed in South Korea in 2018, including events like shooting, youth football, table tennis, and a unified ice hockey team during the Winter Olympics [2].
The visit follows efforts by South Korean President Lee Jae Myung to ease strained ties with North Korea [1, 2]. The sporting event represents a rare instance of cross-border engagement amid persistent political tension.
The semi-final match scheduled for May 20 will be the key event as Naegohyang aims to advance to the final in Suwon three days later [1, 2]. The losing team will depart South Korea on May 21.
