N Korea-football
N. Korea reports women's football win, makes no mention of S. Korean venue
SEOUL, May 24 (Yonhap) -- North Korean state media reported Sunday that a North Korean women's football club won Asia's top tournament, while avoiding any mention that the final was held in South Korea.
The North's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that Naegohyang Women's FC won the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women's Champions League the previous day, defeating Tokyo Verdy Beleze 1-0 in the final.
The KCNA reported that the North Korean players were awarded the championship trophy and gold medals, while Kim Kyong-yong, the captain, was named the tournament's most valuable player.
However, the report did not mention where the final match took place. The match was held at Suwon Stadium in Suwon, about 30 kilometers south of Seoul, on Saturday.
State media had reported Thursday that the semifinal venue was "in South Korea" when it covered the North Korean women's football team's victory over a South Korean team the previous day.
None of North Korea's coverage of the tournament included details of the atmosphere at the stadium, such as cheers from an inter-Korean joint cheering squad organized by South Korean civic groups.
The Rodong Sinmun, the official paper of the ruling Workers' Party and one of the few publications accessible to ordinary North Koreans, also reported on the victory of the women's football team without mentioning the venue.
The state mouthpiece described the win as "proud achievements" that "instilled confidence" to North Koreans and gave them great encouragement.
The newspaper also carried photos showing Naegohyang players lifting the trophy and posing for commemorative photos while holding up the North Korean flag after the awards ceremony, as well as Kim receiving the MVP award.
This EPA photo shows North Korea's Naegohyang Women's FC players celebrating with the trophy after winning the Asian Football Confederation Women's Champions League 2026 final match against Tokyo Verdy Beleza, in Suwon, south of Seoul, on May 23, 2026. (Yonhap)
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