North Korean side win in South Korea to become Asian champions
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- Naegohyang defeated Tokyo Verdy Beleza 1‑0 in the Asian Women’s Champions League final in Suwon, South Korea.
- Kim Kyong Yong scored the decisive goal just before half‑time, securing the win for the North Korean side.
- North Korea’s national flag was paraded after the match, an exception to South Korea’s National Security Act that normally bans the flag.
- Naegohyang earned a berth in next year’s FIFA Women’s Champions Cup as the Asian champion.
- South Korea’s Unification Minister Chund Dong‑young hailed the match as a positive precedent for inter‑Korean relations, while President Lee Jae Myung seeks to improve ties despite North Korea’s hostile rhetoric.
Why it matters: Naegohyang’s victory earns a FIFA Women’s Champions Cup slot, raising North Korea’s football stature and giving South Korea’s unification ministry a diplomatic win to showcase inter‑Korean goodwill amid lingering tensions.
