'We're here solely to play football,' insists North Korean coach

AI Summary

The North Korean football coach emphasized that their team’s visit to South Korea is strictly for football, deflecting questions about potential political undertones. This is their first visit in eight years to the South.

The coach of the first North Korean sports team to visit the South in eight years batted away questions Tuesday about the prospect of South Koreans cheering his side, saying: "We are here solely to play football." At a packed pre-match press conference, Naegohyang head coach Ri Yu Il brushed off questions about the prospect of South Koreans cheering his side.