Players from the North Korean football club Naegohyang Women’s FC take a break from training ahead of an AFC Women's Champions League semifinal against South Korea’s Suwon FC at the Suwon World Cup Stadium in Gyeonggi on May 19. [NEWS1]
Players from the North Korean football club Naegohyang Women’s FC appeared relaxed and upbeat during training in Suwon, Gyeonggi, on Tuesday, just hours before their AFC Women’s Champions League semifinal against South Korea’s Suwon FC.
The team held its official prematch training session at the auxiliary pitch of Suwon World Cup Stadium. It was the first time reporters had been able to observe the team on the field, as all previous sessions had been held behind privacy screens.
Players in the training were seen smiling freely and letting out cheers together. They were also observed wearing Nike and Adidas boots.
The lively atmosphere on the training ground was a contrast to the delegation’s reserved demeanor upon arrival in South Korea.
Players from the North Korean football club Naegohyang Women’s FC stretch during training ahead of an AFC Women's Champions League semifinal against South Korea’s Suwon FC at the Suwon World Cup Stadium in Gyeonggi on May 19. [NEWS1]
The club arrived at Incheon International Airport on Sunday, and despite the presence of a welcoming committee formed by North Korean defectors and civic organizations holding banners reading “Welcome, Naegohyang Women’s Football Club,” not a single member of the entourage from the North reacted.
The stoic mood followed through the press conference at Suwon Sports Complex on Tuesday, where Naegohyang Women's FC manager Ri Yu-il and forward Kim Kyong-yong gave brief, expressionless answers to reporters' questions.
Naegohyang is the first North Korean footballing delegation to appear in South Korea since the North Korean national team’s participation at the Incheon Asian Games in 2014. This year marks the club's first time competing in the Women's Champions League, which started in the 2024-25 season.
Despite the team's indifference toward South Korea's keen interest and curiosity, the visit has drawn much attention from around the world. Naegohyang FC is one of the few North Korean teams to participate in an inter-Korean football clash, which drew headlines as the two countries are still technically at war.
Players from the North Korean football club Naegohyang Women’s FC train ahead of an AFC Women's Champions League semifinal against Suwon FC at the Suwon World Cup Stadium in Gyeonggi on May 19. [YONHAP]
Players from the North Korean football club Naegohyang Women’s FC stretch before training ahead of an AFC Women's Champions League semifinal against South Korea's Suwon FC at the Suwon World Cup Stadium in Gyeonggi on May 19. [NEWS1]
Players from the North Korean football club Naegohyang Women’s FC train in front of the press ahead of an AFC Women's Champions League semifinal against South Korea's Suwon FC at the Suwon World Cup Stadium in Gyeonggi on May 19. [NEWS1]
Players from the North Korean football club Naegohyang Women’s FC talk among themselves as they take a break from training ahead of an AFC Women's Champions League semifinal against Suwon FC at the Suwon World Cup Stadium in Gyeonggi on May 19. [NEWS1]
Players from the North Korean football club Naegohyang Women’s FC sport Nike and Adidas boots during training ahead of an AFC Women's Champions League semifinal against Suwon FC at the Suwon World Cup Stadium in Gyeonggi on May 19. [YONHAP]
Players from the North Korean football club Naegohyang Women’s FC train ahead of an AFC Women's Champions League semifinal against Suwon FC at the Suwon World Cup Stadium in Gyeonggi on May 19. [NEWS1]
Players from the North Korean football club Naegohyang Women’s FC stretch during training ahead of an AFC Women's Champions League semifinal against Suwon FC at the Suwon World Cup Stadium in Gyeonggi on May 19. [NEWS1]
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
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