North Korean Soccer Team Visits South Korea
Thursday, 2026/05/21188 words3 minutes1039 reads
South Korea welcomed North Korean athletes for the first time in over seven years on Sunday. A women's soccer team arrived to compete in the Asian club championship.
Thirty-nine players and staff from Pyongyang's Naegohyang Women's Football Club arrived at Incheon International Airport on a flight from Beijing. Dressed smartly in matching blazers and skirts, the players walked directly to their bus without acknowledging the pro-unification groups cheering for them. They remained silent and emotionless until their bus departed for Suwon under police escort.
The visit occurs during a period of tense inter-Korean relations. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un recently revised the nation's constitution to define the two countries as distinct territories, removing references to reunification. Meanwhile, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has attempted to improve relations and reduce tensions.
The team will face Suwon Football Club Women in Wednesday's semi-final, with over 7,000 tickets already sold out. The North Koreans can stay for up to a week if they advance to Saturday's finals. North Korea's women's soccer program has achieved remarkable success recently, winning multiple youth World Cups, which brings great pride to their nation.
