Overwhelming welcome, only silence returned... North Korea's Naegokhwa Women's Football Team, which drew a line and left after being 'ejected in 3 minutes' [Incheon Airport Scene]

*This content was translated by AI.

Despite the fervent cries of "Welcome," only heavy silence returned. Naegokhwa Women's Football Team, the first North Korean women's club team to set foot on Korean soil, left the airport without showing any significant reaction to the welcome greetings.

Naegokhwa Women's Football Team arrived through Incheon International Airport on the 17th. The team appeared in neat uniforms consisting of navy-colored jackets and white shirts. Naegokhwa Women's Football Team is scheduled to face South Korea's Suwon FC Women in the 2025-2026 AFC Women's Champions League (AWCL) semi-final match to be held at Suwon Sports Complex on the 20th.

On this day, some representatives from peace-related organizations were present at the arrival hall. They held up placards reading "Welcome, Naegokhwa Women's Football Team" to greet the North Korean team. As the team appeared, cries of "Welcome" and "Fighting" continued.

However, the North Korean team's reaction was not just calm, but cold. Naegokhwa Women's Football Team players showed no significant reaction to the welcome greetings. There were no gestures of waving hands or speaking to anyone. In fact, it was difficult to find even a player turning their head toward the direction where the welcome greetings were heard. After passing through the arrival hall, the team moved directly to a prepared vehicle within about three minutes.

Ahead of this match, over 200 organizations related to unification formed a joint support group for the semi-final match between Suwon FC Women and Naegokhwa Women's Football Team. The joint support group is reportedly preparing wave-style cheering along with slogans supporting both teams, such as "Well done, Suwon" and "Go, Naegokhwa." The Ministry of Unification also decided to support 300 million won from the inter-Korean cooperation fund for tickets and cheering tools, judging that on-site cheering could contribute to enhancing mutual understanding between North and South Korea.

However, unlike the warm welcome atmosphere, the arrival scene concluded quietly. While there were voices expecting joint cheering and a peace atmosphere, the North Korean team remained silent throughout. Before the North-South showdown on the field even began, a strange temperature difference was already evident at the airport arrival hall. Naegokhwa Women's Football Team, staying at a hotel in Suwon city, is reported to proceed with training under strict security in the future.

Foreign media also highlighted the different atmospheres between South Korea and North Korea. Japan's Nikkan Sports reported, "North Korea announced in 2023 that it would abandon the goal of peaceful unification with South Korea and designated South Korea as an enemy country. In contrast, in South Korea, some organizations that have supported inter-Korean friendship and cooperation are forming a support group for both teams to hold a cheering event. Additionally, the South Korean government is supporting 300 million won from the inter-Korean cooperation fund for cheering activities, aiming to improve inter-Korean relations."

It then pointed out, "However, there are voices urging caution to avoid being overly politicized due to the South Korean government's intervention."

The North Korean team visited South Korea for the first time in about eight years since the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World Tour Grand Finals held in Incheon in December 2018. This is the first visit by a North Korean women's football team to the South since the 2014 Incheon Asian Games, and the first time for a women's club team.

Suwon FC Women and Naegokhwa Women's Football Team faced each other last November in Myanmar. At that time, Naegokhwa Women's Football Team won 3-0.

Meanwhile, in another semi-final, Melbourne City (Australia) and Tokyo Verdy Beleza (Japan) will face off. Both semi-final matches will be single-elimination. The final match will be held at the same venue on the 23rd.

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*This content was translated by AI.