[Courtesy of Korea Football Association]
South Korean women's national football team may gain state approval to visit North Korea for a historic inter-Korean match in April when Pyongyang hosts a qualifier of next year's Women's Asian Cup in Jordan.
South Korea were grouped with North Korea, Uzbekistan, Hong Kong and India in Group B for AFC Women's Asian Cup qualifying matches to be held in Pyongyang. The inter-Korean match was set for April 7.
The South's unification ministry in charge of cross-border affairs said it would follow AFC rules and guidelines in allowing a football team to visit North Korea.
There was no outright commitment. But if approved, that would be the first official match of its kind between South and North Korean national football teams.
Seoul has almost suspended all civilian inter-Korean trade and exchanges as part of strengthened international sanctions triggered by North Korea's military provocations including a series of missile and nuclear tests.
The only inter-Korean match in Pyongyang was held in 1990 when South Korea sent a men's national team for a friendly. In 2008, a FIFA World Cup qualifier in Pyongyang had to be moved to Shanghai due to a row over flags and national anthem.
North Korean women are among the best in the world, winning the Asian Cup in 2001, 2003 and 2008.
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
