North Korean Football Coach in South Korea Avoids Politics, Says "Only Here to Play"

(CNA Suwon, May 19, Comprehensive Foreign Report) The coach of the first North Korean sports team to visit South Korea in eight years today dodged questions about South Koreans cheering for them, stating, "We are only here to play football."

Naegohyang Women's FC is set to face South Korea's Suwon FC Women tomorrow in the semi-finals of the AFC Women's Champions League.

According to Agence France-Presse, there is high public interest in this rare inter-Korean showdown, with 7,087 general admission tickets selling out within hours last week.

When the Naegohyang team arrived at South Korea's Incheon International Airport on the 17th, players and officials were surrounded by a large crowd of reporters and supporters holding welcome signs.

Approximately 3,000 spectators from civic groups supported by Seoul's Ministry of Unification are expected to cheer for both teams, but there will be no official away supporters, as North Koreans are generally not permitted to enter South Korea.

At a pre-match press conference today, Naegohyang's head coach, Ri Yu Il, evaded questions about his thoughts on South Koreans potentially cheering for his team.

"I'm not sure if similar questions will continue to arise. But we are only here to play football. We will be fully focused on the match," he said.

The Seoul government has provided $200,000 to support South Korean civic groups planning to cheer for both teams during the match.

According to local media reports, the civic groups have been discussing cheering guidelines with authorities, as waving the North Korean flag in public is prohibited under the National Security Act.

In past similar events held in South Korea, civic groups have instead waved flags bearing a map of the Korean Peninsula.