North Korean Women's Football Team Naegohyang Arrives in South Korea... Remains Silent to Welcoming Delegation
The Naegohyang Women's Football Team from North Korea has come to South Korea to participate in the 2025-2026 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women's Champions League (AWCL) semifinal tournament. This marks the first visit by North Korean sports athletes to South Korea in eight years since the International Table Tennis Federation World Tour Grand Finals in December 2018.
The Naegohyang Women's Football Team, participating in the semifinals of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women's Champions League (AWCL), is arriving at a hotel in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province on the 17th. Photo by Yonhap News
View original imageThe Naegohyang team arrived at Incheon International Airport at around 2:20 p.m. on the 17th. On that day, groups such as the Incheon North Korean Refugees Aid Association, the Incheon Hamgyongbuk-do Residents' Association, and other organizations for displaced people, as well as civic groups like the Korean Independent Reunification Peace Alliance, came to the airport to welcome the team. However, the players boarded the bus to Suwon without any expression and did not respond to the greetings.
According to the Ministry of Unification, the Naegohyang delegation arriving that day consisted of a total of 35 people, including 23 players and 12 staff members. The original plan was for 39 people to enter, but it was confirmed that four reserve players did not come. The Naegohyang delegation reportedly underwent entry inspection procedures in accordance with the Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Act.
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The team came to South Korea to compete in the 2025-2026 AFC Women's Champions League semifinal tournament, which will be held at the Suwon Sports Complex from May 20 to May 23. They will stay at a hotel in Suwon during the tournament. The team is scheduled to play against Suwon FC Women at 7:00 p.m. on May 20. The winner of this match will face the winner of the match between Melbourne City FC (Australia) and Tokyo Verdy (Japan) on May 23 at 2:00 p.m.
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