▲ North Korea's Naegohyang Women's FC players celebrate after beating Tokyo Verdy Beleza to win the Asian Football Confederation Women's Champions League title at Suwon Stadium in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, on May 23, 2026. (Yonhap)

Lee-NK football

Lee congratulates N. Korean club on winning top Asian women's football title

SEOUL, May 23 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Jae Myung congratulated North Korea's Naegohyang Women's FC on Saturday on winning the top Asian women's football title on South Korean soil.

In a message on social media platform X, Lee said he "sincerely congratulates" the players, who defeated Tokyo Verdy Beleza 1-0 in the final of the Asian Football Confederation Women's Champions League at Suwon Stadium in Suwon, 30 kilometers south of Seoul, earlier in the day.

"The high-class matches played at the Champions League clearly showed the world the remarkable development and ability of Asian women's football," he wrote.

"I hope this contest, beyond victory or defeat, was a meaningful occasion to promote a leap for Asian sports and reflect on the values of sports, known as peace and harmony."

Lee also said the North Korean players' "fighting spirit" displayed in a previous rain-soaked match will be remembered for a long time.

To the South Korean cheering squad that supported both the South Korean and North Korean teams, he expressed his "deep respect" for showing a "mature cheering culture."

"The ball is round, and we will meet again," he said. "I will wholeheartedly root for the players' next challenge!"

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