At the end of this month, the North Korean soccer team will make an unusual visit to South Korea.
North Korea’s hometown side will cross the border to play Suwon in the Asian Women’s Champions League semifinals on May 20.
North Korea sent a list of 27 players and 12 staff members who will participate in this visit.
South Korea’s Ministry of Unification confirmed that this trip was the first cross-border trip by a North Korean team since 2018.
North Korea formed a unified ice hockey team for the first time at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics that year and sent players to South Korea.
The visit comes as South Korea’s President Lee Jae-myung seeks to improve strained relations with North Korea.
Relations have deteriorated in recent years, with North Korea labeling South Korea the “most hostile country” and saying it will no longer pursue unification.
North and South Korea did not sign a peace agreement when the Korean War ended in 1953, so technically they are still at war.
My hometown will participate in the Champions League for the first time after defeating Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City 3-0 in the quarterfinals.
The winner will face Melbourne City or Tokyo Verdy in the final in Suwon on May 23.
