Jung Dong-young to Skip North Korean Naegohyang Women's Football Club's Match in Korea, as Team Appears Cold Despite Seoul's Consideration

[The Financial News]  Minister of Unification Jung Dong-young has decided not to attend the North Korean Naegohyang Women's Football Club's match in Korea, which is being held amid a breakdown in inter-Korean dialogue. He reportedly weighed the decision until the last moment.  Jung had shown special interest in the event, including approving 300 million won from the Inter-Korean Cooperation Fund to support some 200 civic groups cheering for the match.
According to the Ministry of Unification on the 19th, Jung will not watch the semifinal between Naegohyang Women's Football Club and Suwon FC Women at Suwon Sports Complex on the afternoon of the 20th.
An official from the Ministry of Unification explained that Jung's decision not to attend was made "in consideration of the nature of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) event." The official said the decision reflected the fact that the tournament is a match between football clubs, not a national team competition.
The Naegohyang Women's Football Club's visit to Korea is the first by a North Korean sports team in eight years. It is also believed to be the first time a North Korean adult women's club team has played in Korea.
However, the North Korean delegation, which entered the country with Seoul's support, has maintained a cold attitude since arriving at Incheon International Airport on the 17th. Civic groups welcomed them with banners at the airport, but the Naegohyang players showed no expression. The team consists of 39 people, including 27 players and 12 staff members. 
In addition, a plan for South and North Korean players to stay together at Novotel Ambassador Suwon near Suwon Sports Complex fell through after the North Korean side refused. Naegohyang Women's Football Club reportedly demanded that the floors above and below the one they would use be left vacant. As a result, the home team, Suwon FC Women, had to abruptly change accommodations three days earlier.
Seoul also tried to process the team's entry through a certificate for visiting the South, but North Korea presented passports instead. North Korea recently revised its constitution to legally clarify the so-called "two-state theory" between the two Koreas. The South Korean government reportedly used the passports only as reference materials and did not stamp them for entry. 
Earlier, the Ministry of Unification had pre-approved Naegohyang Women's Football Club's application to visit South Korea for the AFC Women's Champions League semifinal. The application was not submitted directly by North Korea to the ministry; instead, it was filed on its behalf by the Korea Football Association (KFA).


rainman@fnnews.com Kim Kyung-soo Reporter