North Korean Women's Football Club to Play Rare Match in South Korea

Seoul - A North Korean women's football club is set to become the first sports team from the country to play in South Korea since 2018. The unification ministry confirmed Monday that Naegohyang Women's FC will face Suwon FC Women on May 20 in the semi-finals of the AFC Women's Champions League.

The two Koreas remain technically at war after their 1950-1953 conflict ended in an armistice, making cross-border exchanges extremely rare. The North Korean delegation includes 27 players and 12 staff members.

The winner advances to the final on May 23 against either Australia's Melbourne City or Japan's Tokyo Verdy Beleza. The losing team will return home on May 21 with no third-place playoff scheduled.

North Korea's national team dominates Asian women's football, most recently winning the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup last November by defeating the Netherlands 3-0.