Naegohyang became the first North Korean sports team to compete in South Korea since 2018, defeating Suwon 2-1 in the Asian Women's Champions League semi-final. Second-half goals from Choe Kum-ok and Kim Kyong-yong overturned Haruhi Suzuki's early strike, sending the visitors to their first final in the competition's history.

The victory sparked emotional scenes as North Korean players wept tears of joy at the final whistle. Choe praised her team's resilience after a difficult first half, saying they found their rhythm after the break. Suwon's chances of a comeback ended when former Chelsea captain Ji So-yun missed a late penalty following a VAR review.

This historic match comes amid deteriorating relations between the two Koreas, with North Korea recently labeling South Korea its "most hostile state." South Korea's Unification Minister called the game a "positive precedent" for inter-Korean relations, despite the countries remaining technically at war since 1953.

Naegohyang will face Japan's Tokyo Verdy Beleza in the final on May 23 at the same Suwon stadium, marking another significant moment in the tournament's history.