'Joy to beloved motherland': N.Korea football glory fuels propaganda
North Korea is revelling in its superiority in women's youth football following a third World Cup victory in little more than a year, a sporting achievement that bolsters the isolated regime's political ideology.
A 3-0 victory over the Netherlands in Morocco on Saturday allowed the North Korean squad to claim their second consecutive Women's U-17 World Cup title, and the fourth overall, after their success the previous year.
These successive U-17 wins follow North Korea's triumph in the Women's Under-20 World Cup in September 2024, a nation that remains largely sealed from global influences.
In Morocco, the North Koreans dominated the competition, netting a record 25 goals while allowing only three, and securing victory in all seven encounters.
The success prompted the regime's propaganda apparatus to mobilise on Monday, with official outlets highlighting the team's feats as delivering "joy to our beloved motherland".
The Rodong Sinmun publication featured a prominent article from the Korean Central News Agency on its front page, proclaiming: "Our players dashed across the field, proudly waving the noble flag of our republic."
Despite its nuclear capabilities and economic hardships, North Korea frequently appears in headlines for defying sanctions through missile tests, yet it views sports investments as validation for its governance model.
Inspiration to the people
The win provided "immense motivation and uplift to the entire populace ... to convene the 9th Party Congress as a triumphant and splendid occasion," according to the official Korean Central News Agency.
This alludes to the quinquennial assembly of the nation's top governing council, led by Kim Jong Un.
Twelve months prior, authorities organised a public procession to honour the returning U-17 champions.
Hong Min, an expert at the Korea Institute for National Unification in Seoul, informed AFP that similar festivities are anticipated in Pyongyang shortly.
"Many view the country as culturally underdeveloped and detached," he remarked.
"Thus, they aim to leverage this to showcase robust and dynamic social and cultural underpinnings."
Hong noted that promising young athletes are identified early and subjected to intensive state-sponsored training.
"The regime spots top talents at tender ages and commits substantial resources at a national scale to prepare them for international events," Hong explained.
"In response, the athletes feel compelled to reward this support through outstanding results."
He observed that this method is typical in socialist states, where governments spearhead the cultivation of premier sports figures.
The prowess in women's football starkly contrasts with the men's team, which sits at 120th in FIFA rankings and last appeared in a World Cup in 2010.
The adult North Korean women's side holds the 10th spot globally and stands as a leading contender for the upcoming Women's Asian Cup in Australia next year.
Among the 12 qualified nations, only Japan, ranked eighth, surpasses them in the world standings.
Stricter approach
Lee Jung-woo, a senior academic specialising in sports and leisure policy at the University of Edinburgh, indicated that North Korea adopts a more rigorous strategy for youth sports compared to Western nations.
"In youth football, European bodies tend to emphasise enjoyment more," he stated during a discussion with German media DW.
However, in North Korea, youngsters enter intensely structured, methodical, and professional training programmes from an early stage, enabling rapid advancement.
The Netherlands' U-17 coach, Olivier Amelink, admitted that the North Koreans excelled in technique, stamina, and vigour, placing them in a league apart.
"We had no chance of defeating them. The disparity is too vast to bridge currently," he shared with FIFA.com post-match.
"They dominated us from start to finish."
North Korea's Yu Jong Hyang earned tournament MVP honours, scoring a shared-record eight goals to claim both the top scorer Golden Boot and the best player Golden Ball.
"Our team delivered a superb performance in the final," commented midfielder Ri Ui Gyong, who netted the third goal.
"Every one of those 25 goals was remarkable, achieved through mutual trust and total commitment among the players."