Inter-Korean football exchange remains frosty despite 8-year gap; 'Realistic readjustment of North Korea policy suggested'

North Korea's women's football team, the "Myonghyang" (My Hometown) club, departed South Korea on Thursday, concluding an eight-year hiatus for North Korean athletes visiting the South. Their return home followed their victory in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women's Champions League final held in Suwon.

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The proud results brought the confidence of victory and great encouragement to the entire nation's people.

The team and its staff of 35 maintained a reserved demeanor throughout their stay. Upon arrival on May 17 and departure on May 24, players offered no farewells to the South Korean civic group members who came to see them off, passing by with expressionless faces. During the tournament, North Korea's state media, Rodong Sinmun, reported on the matches but omitted any details about South Korea, focusing instead on the team's achievements for its domestic audience. The report on the final victory stated that the "proud results" brought "the confidence of victory and great encouragement to the entire nation's people."

Tensions were palpable during the press conference following the final. When a South Korean reporter referred to the North Korean team as "Bukcheuk" (the North side), coach Ri Yu-il expressed displeasure, demanding the "correct national name" be used before abruptly leaving the conference. This incident underscored North Korea's official stance, which designates both Koreas as "hostile states."

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Please call the country name correctly.

Experts believe the football exchange's impact on broader inter-Korean relations will be limited. Kim Bo-mi, head of North Korean studies at the Institute for National Security Strategy, noted in a report that North Korea is diluting the concept of a single Korean nation and approaching inter-Korean relations within the framework of international norms. She advised that South Korea's North Korea policy should be realistically readjusted to reflect this changed reality.

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The visit of the North Korean women's football team to South Korea has limited potential to lead to a turning point in inter-Korean relations.

However, some see the visit as a potential stepping stone for increased engagement in non-political sectors. Yang Moo-jin, a distinguished professor at the University of North Korean Studies, suggested that the team's visit, likely approved by Kim Jong Un himself, indicates a possibility for expanding inter-Korean contact, particularly in areas outside of politics.

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North Korea is diluting the concept of a single Korean nation and approaching inter-Korean relations within the framework of international norms. South Korea's North Korea policy should be realistically readjusted to reflect this changed reality.