By Mark Baber
July 8 – In a decision hailed as a sign of decreased tensions, South Korea’s Unification Ministry has given the go-ahead for the North Korean women’s national team to participate in the Women’s East Asian Cup which kicks off on July 20.
It will be the first time North Korean footballers have visited the South since 2009 when the two Koreas clashed in Seoul for an Asian men’s qualifying match for the 2010 World Cup. The all-Korea showdown for the upcoming women’s event is scheduled for July 21.
As well as 21 footballers and 15 officials, a group of 41 North Korean fans from the Zainichi community in Japan will be allowed into the country to support the team.
North Korea are competing against South Korea, China and Japan in a tournament in which they finished runners-up in 2005 and 2008.
Although North Korea are disqualified from the 2015 Women’s World Cup due to a doping scandal, the team currently sits in ninth place in the FIFA Rankings, whilst South Korea are 16th.
