North Korea Lauds Women's Football Champions, Silent on South Korean Venue
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un personally received the country’s AFC Women’s Champions League winners in Pyongyang earlier this week, embracing the players and posing for photographs with them as they wept with joy and leapt in celebration. Naegohyang Women’s FC clinched Asia’s top club title with a 1-0 defeat of Tokyo Verdy Beleza of Japan in the final in Suwon on May 23, becoming the first North Korean side to win the AFC Women’s Champions League, as reported by the South China Morning Post.
According to state media, Kim congratulated the players on their historic achievement and also watched a friendly between Naegohyang and the under-17 women’s national side. Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of North Korea’s ruling Workers’ Party, hailed the squad as “proud daughters of the motherland who once again powerfully displayed the spirit and mettle of the Korean people with back-to-back victories in the semi-finals and final.” Members of the public and dozens of ruling party officials attended the reception, cheering and waving miniature national flags, footage from digital broadcaster APT News showed.
Naegohyang are reported to have earned US$1 million in prize money, though whether the club will receive it remains uncertain given the UN sanctions in place over Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons programme. The championship run required Naegohyang to compete in South Korea, marking the first time North Korean footballers had travelled to the neighbouring country since the 2014 Incheon Asian Games.
Coverage Comparison
While the South China Morning Post focused on the celebratory reception and the team's achievement, Yonhap News Agency's English-language reports emphasized a notable omission in North Korean state media coverage: the venue of the final. Yonhap reported that the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) did not mention that the final was held at Suwon Stadium in Suwon, about 30 kilometers south of Seoul. This omission was consistent across state media, including Rodong Sinmun, which carried photos of the players lifting the trophy but no reference to the location.
Earlier, KCNA had reported on the semifinal, noting that the match between "the Naegohyang Team of the DPRK and the Suwon Team of the ROK" took place in South Korea, using the acronyms for the two countries' official names. However, that report omitted details such as the South Korean crowd's reception and the torrential rain that drenched the pitch, though Rodong Sinmun did run photos of players competing in the downpour. Yonhap also noted that South Korean national flags on the players' uniforms were blurred in those photos, a practice a unification ministry official said was not isolated.
Key Claims
- Historic Victory: Naegohyang Women’s FC defeated Tokyo Verdy Beleza 1-0 in the final of the AFC Women’s Champions League, held in Suwon, South Korea, on May 23. The team had earlier beaten Suwon FC Women 2-1 in the semifinals on May 20, with captain Kim Kyong-yong scoring in the 44th minute of the final. Kim was named the tournament's MVP, and the team earned US$1 million in prize money.
- Kim Jong-un's Personal Reception: The South China Morning Post reported that Kim Jong-un personally received the team, congratulating them on their achievement. Yonhap's coverage of the welcome ceremony in Pyongyang noted that players were greeted by government and sports officials, as well as family members, before a bus parade through streets lined with cheering citizens.
- State Media Omission: Yonhap reported that North Korean state media, including KCNA and Rodong Sinmun, did not mention the venue of the final. Yonhap also said that the team's departure from South Korea was marked by a "stony-faced, restrained demeanor," which it suggested appeared to be a carefully staged display amid strained inter-Korean ties.
- Coach's Gratitude: Head coach Ri Yu-il, in a post-match press conference reported by Yonhap, thanked the Workers' Party for its support, saying, "Naegohyang have been around for only 14 years. And we were able to reach No. 1 in Asia today because of the warm love and support of the party we so respect." He added, "I am truly overjoyed. I am so proud of my players for overcoming so much adversity and following my lead for this moment."
- Prize Money and Sanctions: Yonhap reported that the US$1 million prize money would not be sent directly to North Korea due to international sanctions over its nuclear and missile programs. FIFA and the AFC will hold the funds in reserve and allow North Korea to use them to cover expenses for future international tournaments.
Perspectives
- North Korean State Media: Emphasized the team's achievement as a point of national pride, with Rodong Sinmun describing the victory as "proud achievements" that "instilled confidence" in North Koreans. State media highlighted Kim Jong-un's personal involvement and the celebratory welcome, but omitted any mention of the South Korean venue.
- South Korean News Agency (Yonhap): Focused on the state media's omission, framing it as a deliberate choice. Yonhap also reported on the South Korean government's purchase of thousands of tickets for civic group members to form cheering squads, indicating significant interest in the North Korean team's participation.
- Head Coach Ri Yu-il: Expressed gratitude to the Workers' Party and pride in his players, attributing the team's success to the party's support and the players' perseverance. His comments were reported by Yonhap.
- International Sanctions Context: Yonhap's coverage noted that the prize money would be held in reserve due to sanctions, highlighting the international restrictions affecting North Korean participation in global sports events.