Could a football match soften North Korea-South Korea relations?
20.05.2026
Could a football match soften North Korea-South Korea relations?
A women's football match between teams from North and South Korea marked the first time athletes from the North have crossed the border since 2018.
Naegohyang won 2-1 in their semi-final against South Korea's Suwon, earning them a place in the Asian Women's Champions League final.
The North Korean team will face Japan's Tokyo Verdy Beleza during the final on Saturday at the same stadium. Within hours of going on sale, more than 7,000 tickets for the rare North-South semi-final at Suwon Sports Complex sold out.
But with relations between the two countries in a deep freeze, BBC Seoul Correspondent Jake Kwon looks at whether a football match could spark renewed diplomatic efforts.
North Korea–South Korea relations
South Korea
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