North Korea’s first sports team to visit the South in eight years said it was ready to take on the world after winning the AFC Women’s Champions League.
Naegohyang Women’s FC beat Japan’s Tokyo Verdy Beeleza 1-0 in the final in Suwon, South Korea on Saturday, thanks to a goal from captain Kim Kyong-yong before half-time.
Naegohyang’s victory means they will appear in next year’s FIFA Women’s Champions Cup, which features the champions of each of the six confederations, with the final four games being played in Miami.
The club’s coach Ri Yu-il thanked North Korean leader Kim Jong-un for his “warm love, care and loyalty” before looking forward to a tie with the world’s best team.
“Today, as we face the historic moment of moving forward in the world as the top team in Asia, the emotion and passion we feel is indescribable,” he said.
“The cup ceremony has already been completed, and now we are faced with the task of facing the various challenges ahead of us.”
