The North Korean women’s soccer team burst into tears when they met Kim Jong-un

On June 3, media reported that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un came to watch a friendly soccer match between the North Korean U17 women’s team and the Naegohyang club earlier this week.

Before the match, Mr. Kim met and congratulated the players and coaching staff of Naegohyang and the U17 team, encouraging them to continue their efforts and wishing the team to win more titles in the future.

He also hugged the female players and took souvenir photos with them. Images published by the media show the players bursting into tears with emotion and jumping up to celebrate when meeting leader Kim Jong-un.

Many residents and dozens of officials also attended the event, cheering and waving small flags.

Naegohyang made history when they defeated Tokyo Verdy Beleza of Japan with a score of 1-0 in the final match held in Suwon city, South Korea on May 23, becoming the first North Korean team to win the Asian women’s tournament.

Rodong Sinmunthe mouthpiece of the Korean Workers’ Party, praised the players as “proud daughters of the fatherland, once again strongly demonstrating the spirit and bravery of the Korean people with consecutive victories in the semi-finals and finals”.

Naegohyang is said to have won a $1 million bonus from the championship. However, whether the club actually received this money or not is unclear, due to United Nations sanctions related to Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons program.

Naegohyang played in South Korea, marking the first time North Korean football players have set foot in the neighboring country since the 2014 Incheon Asian Games.

Several problems occurred during this tour of Naegohyang. The team’s coach Ri Yu-il skipped the post-match press conference because a reporter called the North Korean team a “North Korean team”. In the news, North Korean state media also did not mention that the matches were held in South Korea.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, who in recent months has given many conciliatory signals to improve relations with North Korea, also sent sincere congratulations to Naegohyang after their victory.

“More than winning or losing, I hope that this tournament has become a meaningful occasion to promote the development of Asian sports and remind us of the values ​​of sports, a symbol of peace and harmony,” said Mr. Lee.