NK football team's S. Korea visit signals possibility of inter-Korean cooperation: cheering squad official

Players of Naegohyang Women's FC greet fans after a 3-0 victory over ISPE FC after their match of the AFC Women's Champions League at Thuwunna Stadium in Yangon, Myanmar, Nov. 15, 2025. EPA-Yonhap

A planned visit to South Korea by a North Korean women's football team suggests the possibility of future discussions on inter-Korean cooperation within multilateral frameworks, though it is unlikely to directly lead to broader inter-Korean exchanges, a senior official from an inter-Korean cooperation council said.

Lee Ju-sung, secretary-general of the NGO Council for Inter-Korean Cooperation, made the remarks in an interview with Yonhap News Agency on Friday, as his organization is set to participate in a joint cheerleading squad for the semifinal match between Pyongyang-based Naegohyang Women's FC and South Korea's Suwon FC Women in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women's Champions League.

The North Korean team is scheduled to arrive later in the day at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul. The match is set to take place on Wednesday at Suwon Sports Complex, located about 30 kilometers south of Seoul.

"While civic organizations agreed in principle last month to pursue a joint cheerleading campaign, I was not sure whether North Korea would actually send a team here," Lee said, while pointing to the North's declaration that inter-Korean relations are now those of "two hostile states."

"It will not directly lead to broader inter-Korean exchanges, cooperation or talks. But their visit for an international match gives rise to expectations, as it demonstrates the possibility that inter-Korean cooperation could be discussed within multilateral frameworks in the future," he added.

The visit will mark the first appearance by a North Korean sports team in South Korea in more than seven years, and also will be the first visit by a North Korean women's football team since the 2014 Incheon Asian Games.

The planned event has attracted strong public interest, with all 7,000 seats selling out within 12 hours of ticket sales opening, Lee said, adding that around 3,000 people from about 200 civic groups are expected to take part in the cheerleading squad.

"Conservative groups are also participating in the joint cheering effort, and all agreed to focus solely on cheering together without displaying political colors," Lee said. "We will support both clubs and all players, and we hope this semifinal becomes not only a match but also a festival. We are also preparing a stadium-wide wave involving all spectators."

Following internal discussions, the cheerleading squad decided to use chants featuring the club and player names rather than chanting "Joseon," North Korea's official state name. To ensure the match proceeds safely, a large number of police officers and other security personnel are expected to be deployed.

Last week, the unification ministry approved entry permits for 39 North Korean players and staff members, allowing them to stay from Sunday through May 24. Under the Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Act, North Korean nationals must receive individual government approval to enter South Korea.

The ministry also decided to provide 300 million won ($202,000) in government funding to support South Korean civic groups planning to cheer the players at the upcoming match.