Why North Korea is strong at women’s football - Asia Specific podcast, BBC World Service

Key Concepts

• Sports Diplomacy: The use of athletic competition as a tool to thaw political tensions and foster communication between nations.
• State-Funded Elite Sports System: A centralized model where the government identifies, isolates, and trains top-tier athletes to achieve international prestige.
• High-Altitude Training: A physiological training method used by North Korean athletes to improve cardiovascular efficiency and lung capacity.
• Détente: The easing of hostility or strained relations between countries.
• Propaganda Coup: A strategic victory used to enhance the image or legitimacy of a regime on the global stage.

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1. The Significance of the Match

The Women’s Asian Champions League semifinal between Pyongyang and Suwon marks the first time in eight years that a North Korean sports team has competed on South Korean soil. While not a national team match, the event is treated with high significance, as the Pyongyang team represents the state. The match is viewed as a rare opportunity for potential diplomatic engagement, though analysts remain cautious about whether this signals a genuine shift in North Korea’s hostile stance toward the South.

2. North Korea’s Women’s Football Dominance

North Korea has established itself as a global powerhouse in women’s football through a highly disciplined, state-sponsored program.

• Historical Milestones: The team rose to prominence in 2006 by winning the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, defeating China 5-0. They repeated this dominance in 2016, overcoming major football nations like Spain, France, and the U.S.
• Training Methodology: The regime treats football as a state project, gathering top talent from across the country into elite, military-style training camps.
• Physiological Advantage: Athletes often train in North Korea’s high-altitude regions to improve oxygen utilization, providing a competitive edge when competing at sea level.
• Incentives: Successful athletes receive significant state rewards, including luxury apartments in Pyongyang, permission for family members to relocate to the capital, and high-level pension status equivalent to a vice-minister.

3. Challenges and Controversies

• The 2011 Doping Scandal: The team’s progress was interrupted by a doping scandal involving the use of traditional Eastern medicine containing musk deer organs. This led to a ban from the 2015 World Cup.
• International Isolation: Despite their talent, the team faces limitations due to a lack of international experience. Because of political isolation, they rarely play friendly matches abroad, which may hinder their ability to adapt to the evolving tactical standards of European and American leagues.
• Rumors of Punishment: While rumors persist that losing teams are sent to coal mines, there is no verified evidence of such punishments. Experts note that officials may face "re-education" at collective farms, but the players themselves are generally not subjected to such extreme measures.

4. Diplomatic Context and "Normalcy"

• South Korean Support: The South Korean government has invested approximately 300 million Korean won (~$220,000 USD) to support civilian cheering squads, aiming to create a welcoming environment and ensure the event proceeds smoothly.
• Strategic Intent: North Korea’s participation is likely driven by the desire to win the $1 million prize money and to project an image of a "normal country" on the world stage.
• Current Reality: Despite the "welcome" efforts by South Korean NGOs, the North Korean team has maintained a strict, detached demeanor, ignoring cheering crowds at the airport. This suggests that while the regime is willing to participate in international sports, they are not currently seeking social or political reconciliation with the South.

5. Synthesis

The return of a North Korean football team to South Korea serves as a fascinating case study in the intersection of sports and geopolitics. While the North Korean women’s team remains a formidable, state-engineered force, their participation appears to be a calculated move to maintain international standing and pursue professional success rather than a genuine diplomatic thaw. As the global landscape of women’s football becomes increasingly professionalized, North Korea’s isolated, state-funded model faces a long-term challenge in keeping pace with the tactical advancements of the rest of the world.