North Korean women's soccer club arrives in South Korea

May 17 (Asia Today) -- A North Korean women's soccer club arrived in South Korea on Saturday ahead of the Asian Football Confederation Women's Champions League semifinals, marking the first visit by a North Korean sports team to the South in eight years.

Players and staff from Naegohyang Women's Football Club entered South Korea through Incheon International Airport aboard an Air China flight from China.

The delegation's visit is also the first by a North Korean group since Pyongyang formally described inter-Korean relations as ties between "two hostile states."

The 39-member delegation, dressed in dark business attire, moved quickly through the airport with serious expressions and did not respond to questions from reporters about their visit.

Officials said the players and staff traveled directly to their accommodations by chartered bus.

Naegohyang is scheduled to face Suwon FC Women on Tuesday at Suwon Sports Complex in the semifinals of the AFC Women's Champions League.

The winner will advance to the final Friday against either Melbourne City FC Women or Tokyo Verdy Beleza.

The tournament champion will receive $1 million in prize money, while the runner-up will receive $500,000.

Because the semifinal is considered a club match rather than a national team event, neither national flags nor national anthems will be used.

The South Korean government has encouraged fans to support teams using club flags. Under South Korean law, displaying North Korea's national flag is generally restricted.

More than 200 civic groups, including organizations focused on inter-Korean cooperation and reconciliation, plan to organize a joint cheering section of about 3,000 people for Tuesday's match.

The groups said supporters would cheer for both teams by calling out the clubs' and players' names rather than displaying political messages.

South Korea's Unification Ministry said it has communicated with civic groups to ensure cheering activities comply with AFC regulations, including bans on political and religious expressions inside stadiums.

The South Korean government earlier approved financial support from an inter-Korean cooperation fund to assist civilian cheering activities, including ticket purchases and cheering equipment.

The Unification Ministry issued temporary travel certificates for the North Korean delegation valid from Saturday through May 24.

Officials said the North Korean team is expected to depart early if it loses in the semifinal.

-- Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI

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Original Korean report: https://www.asiatoday.co.kr/kn/view.php?key=20260517010004544

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This story was originally published May 17, 2026 at 7:16 PM.