The U20 team was hailed after they landed in Pyongyang.
Photo: Jon Chol Jin / TT NEWS AGENCY
Kim Jong-Un.
Photo: AP / AP TT NEWS AGENCY
Gold at the U20 World Cup and U17 World Cup. Final victories against Spain and Japan.
This autumn, the eyes of the football world have been directed towards the world’s most closed country and asked themselves the same question: How did North Korea become best in class in girls’ football?
– First of all, it is important to point out that Kim Jong-Un has used sports as a political propaganda instrument since he took over the country from his father, Kim Jong-Il, in 2011, says Josephine Rasmussen at the Institute for Security and Development Policy.
We back the band to exactly 2011.
In the same year that Kim Jong-Un becomes North Korea’s new leader, a scandal breaks out in North Korean women’s soccer.
Shut down – said they were struck by lightning
During the World Cup in Germany, North Korea faces Sweden in the group stage. Lisa Dahlkvist scores the only goal of the match.
Before the final group stage match, two North Korean players test positive for doping. The scandal is growing fast. A total of five players in the WC team were found guilty of anabolic steroids.
From the North Korean camp, a natural explanation for the positive tests is presented: the players had ingested steroids through a Chinese medicine containing extract from the gland of a muskox.
Why would footballers take such a drug? The players had been struck by lightning during a training session, according to the national team.
A total of five players were suspended.
Photo: PETER KNEFFEL / EPA / SCANPIX / EPA TT NEWS AGENCY
Fifa did not buy the explanation and North Korea was not allowed to participate in the 2015 World Cup.
What happened to the players who tested positive for doping is currently unknown.
– Such information is difficult to obtain, says Josephine Rasmussen.
Won it all – after four years of silence
The doping scandal put a damper on North Korea’s progress. They dropped in the world rankings and failed to qualify for the 2019 WC.
When the pandemic hit, the already closed North Korea shut down.
Four years later, a few athletes have been released for international competition again.
– When North Korean athletes compete internationally, both Kim Jong-Un and the athletes themselves will give credit to the North Korean government for their achievements.
Many raised their eyebrows when North Korea swept the court with all opposition at the U20 World Cup. No one had seen the team play for four years.
The success continued when, a few weeks ago, they also took home the U17 WC.
At home, the young players have been greeted by tearful tributes.
– It is seen as a symbol of success, both for the players and for the regime.
Kim Jong-Un has repeatedly praised women’s players for their success internationally.
Photo: KCNA / EPA / TT / EPA TT NEWS AGENCY
But success on the youth side is nothing new. The U20 gold was the country’s third, as many as Germany and the USA.
How is it that North Korea is so successful on the youth side?
– North Korean teams clearly need to perform well if Kim Jong-Un’s propaganda investment in sports is to give the state significant positive exposure. And unlike liberal democracies, he has one instrument in his toolbox to achieve it: unlimited authority over his people.
Young girls are selected from regional schools to the Pyongyang International Football School to be educated.
– The regime has the power to be able to promote the movement of children who excel.
Going through “ideological review”
It can change the life of an entire family. Football is a way to get to the capital Pyongyang, away from the poverty in the countryside.
Military parade in Pyongyang.
Photo: TT NEWS AGENCY
Choe Il-son is one of them.
The 17-year-old giant talent broke through with a bang during the youth championships this autumn. But she will probably never play for a club outside North Korea.
Although the regime wants to use sport to improve its reputation, North Korea fears that the athletes’ perception of North Korean society will be affected, says Josephine Rasmussen.
– After the Olympics last summer, it appeared reports about how North Korean athletes undergo “ideological scrutiny” after competing internationally. It can indicate what the women’s players can experience, says the North Korea expert.
The review is said to be divided into three phases and culminate in self-reflection.
– There they have to criticize “inappropriate behavior” among their teammates and think about their own behavior.
If athletes express remorse, they can avoid “political or administrative” punishment. What the punishment includes is unclear.
North Korea: A Safe Bet for Women’s Football Success?
Ah, North Korea. The only place on Earth where “unlimited authority” doesn’t just apply to the Supreme Leader’s hairstyle but also seems to extend to how they dominate in youth women’s football! Who knew that behind all those military parades and “rocket man” antics lay a thriving football program? Well, let’s break it down because, let’s face it, this story is juicier than a plate of kimchi salad served on a Sunday afternoon in Pyongyang.
Gold Medals and Kim’s Sports Propaganda
So, North Korea’s U20 and U17 teams have been strutting their stuff like they own the pitch—oh wait, they kinda do! The gold medals at these world cups weren’t just won; they were meticulously crafted under the watchful eye of Kim Jong-Un, who apparently has a passion for football rivaling my love for a good pun. According to Josephine Rasmussen from the Institute for Security and Development Policy, Kim has been using ‘sports’—with a very loose definition of the word—as a tool for some serious political shenanigans since he took over from Kim Jong-Il. It’s practically a football renaissance, minus the Renaissance part and plus a few political prisoners!
The Scandal That Wasn’t Meant to Be
Let’s time. Back to 2011, when Kim Jong-Un was just getting comfy in his cushy dictator chair. Enter the infamous doping scandal at the Germany World Cup: five players caught in a performance-enhancing pickle. And what’s the excuse? They were struck by lightning! Talk about a shocking revelation! (Pun absolutely intended.) North Korea’s playbook seems to include a chapter titled, “If at first you don’t succeed, make up a deranged excuse!” But FIFA wasn’t having it; North Korea got the red card and a nice little ban for the 2015 World Cup.
A Comet of Gold After Years in the Shadows
Flash forward to 2023. After four years of silence—like my phone when I run out of battery—North Korea bursts back onto the international stage by obliterating everyone in sight at the U20 World Cup. And why? Because when you’ve got Kim’s name on the line, it’s either win the gold or… well, let’s just say you’d better not show up late for dinner. The regime has weaponized football; it is a national showcase where the only tears shed are those of joy from the Supreme Leader himself.
Choosing the Chosen Ones
Now, how do these young women get their foot into the elite league? They’re scouted from regional schools and sent to the Pyongyang International Football School. It sounds like Hogwarts, but instead of magic wands, they wield Shin Guards. It’s a classic case of “win or do what we all know happens behind closed doors,” according to Rasmussen. Playing football here is not just a game; it’s your ticket out of rural poverty and into the limelight—or your way to a side of life most of us would escape faster than a politician at a truth-telling convention!
Scrutinized Success – The Price of Fame
The athletes might be basking in glory, but they’ve got a bigger problem lurking in the shadows. North Korean athletes are reportedly subjected to “ideological scrutiny” post-competition. They have to reflect on their performance, which sounds suspiciously like a corporate performance review—only this one comes with a much larger potential for punishment if the wrong word slips out. So, if you ever find yourself in Pyongyang trying to explain your feelings on the local cuisine? Prepare for an awkward silence lasting… well, longer than the train ride you’re about to take to “re-education.”
Conclusion: A Winning Strategy for the Regime
In the end, North Korea’s surprising success in women’s football isn’t just about scoring goals and celebrating victories. It’s a finely crafted propaganda operation, one where even the athletes’ accolades are subject to the regime’s will. So next time you watch a women’s football match, and you feel inspired, just remember: in North Korea, success is kick-started with a hefty dose of ideology and a sprinkle of fear. Because, honestly, who needs freedom when you can have gold medals?
The North Korean U20 women’s football team received an enthusiastic welcome upon their arrival in Pyongyang, marking a significant moment for the country.
Photo: Jon Chol Jin / TT NEWS AGENCY
Kim Jong-Un has utilized sports as a pivotal tool for political propaganda since succeeding his father, Kim Jong-Il, in 2011, according to expert Josephine Rasmussen from the Institute for Security and Development Policy.
In the same year that Kim Jong-Un becomes the new leader of North Korea, a scandal erupts within the North Korean women’s soccer team that would overshadow their athletic endeavors.
Shut down – said they were struck by lightning
During the 2011 World Cup in Germany, North Korea faced off against Sweden in a challenging group stage match. Lisa Dahlkvist’s goal secured a solitary victory for Sweden, but the real story unfolded off the pitch.
Before the final group stage match, reports surfaced that two North Korean players tested positive for doping, igniting a scandal that rapidly escalated. Ultimately, five members of the World Cup squad were found guilty of taking anabolic steroids.
North Korean officials offered a controversial explanation for the positive tests, claiming the players had inadvertently ingested steroids via a Chinese medicinal product containing muskox gland extract. However, this defense did little to quell the fallout.
The North Korean national team claimed that the players had sustained injuries after being struck by lightning during a training session, leading to their use of the medication. This unfounded claim only deepened their troubles as FIFA point-blank rejected their explanations, resulting in North Korea’s exclusion from the 2015 World Cup.
What ultimately transpired with the players involved in the doping scandal remains unclear, with Josephine Rasmussen noting the difficulty in obtaining such information in the closed society of North Korea.
Won it all – after four years of silence
The fallout from the doping scandal severely hampered North Korea’s progress in women’s football. Following the incident, the team’s world ranking plummeted, and they failed to qualify for the 2019 World Cup.
As the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded, North Korea tightened its already stringent borders and restrictions, leaving very few athletes competing internationally. Four years later, as conditions began to change, a limited number of North Korean athletes were granted permission to re-enter global competitions.
– The North Korean government’s interest in promoting their athletes at international events aligns closely with Kim Jong-Un’s regime’s agenda, leveraging these successes to bolster state credibility and national pride.
Many were astonished when North Korea’s U20 team swept through the competition at the World Cup, especially given the team had been absent from the international stage for four years. Their success continued to shine weeks later when they clinched the U17 World Cup title as well.
Returning home, the young players received tearful tributes, symbolizing their accomplishments as a victory for both the athletes and the North Korean regime.
Kim Jong-Un has consistently lauded the women’s football teams, recognizing their triumphs on the international stage as key elements of his propaganda strategy. Photo: KCNA / EPA / TT / EPA TT NEWS AGENCY
The U20 gold victory marks North Korea’s third title in this category, placing them in esteemed company alongside powerhouse nations like Germany and the USA.
What contributes to North Korea’s remarkable youth success in football?
– Kim Jong-Un’s extensive control over the North Korean populace enables the regime to enforce a stringent sports program that prioritizes exceptional performance in youth sports, crucial for projecting a favorable image of the state.
Talented young girls are systematically selected from local schools to attend the prestigious Pyongyang International Football School, where their skills are honed on a national scale.
This opportunity can serve as a transformative experience, providing a pathway to the capital and a potential escape from the pervasive poverty found in rural areas.
Choe Il-son, a 17-year-old prodigy, emerged as a standout star during the recent youth championships, showcasing North Korea’s investment in talent development. However, her prospects for playing in a club outside North Korea appear bleak.
While the regime endeavors to enhance its international reputation through sports, it remains wary of the ideological implications that such exposure may have on athletes’ perceptions of their homeland, warns Josephine Rasmussen.
Recent reports have indicated that North Korean athletes undergo rigorous “ideological scrutiny” following their participation in international competitions, a process believed to reflect what female players might also face.
This screening reportedly comprises three stages, culminating in a deep introspection where athletes critique their behaviors and those of their teammates.
By expressing regret for any perceived missteps, athletes may avoid severe “political or administrative” repercussions, though the exact nature of these punishments remains largely unknown.
G>Women’s football in North Korea has transformed into a tool for political propaganda, with the regime leveraging athletic success to promote national pride and boost Kim Jong-Un’s image. The North Korean U20 and U17 women’s football teams have gained international acclaim over the years, with notable victories in world competitions. However, behind the scenes, these athletes face intense scrutiny and pressure to maintain the image of success dictated by the regime.
Since Kim Jong-Un’s ascent to power in 2011, sports have become a critical vehicle for propagandistic objectives, showcasing North Korea on the global stage. The expert Josephine Rasmussen highlights how Kim’s personal affinity for football blends with his strategic use of sports as a means to bolster state legitimacy. This fusion of sport and statecraft was further emphasized by North Korea’s impressive comeback in 2023, where they dominated the U20 World Cup and secured the U17 title shortly after.
Despite the celebrations, past scandals, such as the 2011 doping incident, illustrate the precariousness of athletes’ positions under the regime. Five players were implicated in drug use, with North Korean authorities presenting far-fetched excuses to downplay the scandal. The consequences were severe, as the national team faced a ban from participating in the 2015 World Cup, reflecting the risks associated with failure.
Moreover, the intense ideological scrutiny faced by North Korean athletes post-competition speaks volumes about the climate of fear and control. Competitors are expected to engage in self-reflection and critique their actions and their teammates’, a practice that serves both as a compliance mechanism and a reinforcement of the regime’s overarching authority.
As these young women continue to rise in international football, they navigate a complex landscape where their talents can lead to fame, but their successes are intertwined with the regime’s narrative and punitive measures for any perceived missteps. Ultimately, their accomplishments are not merely personal triumphs but rather points of leverage in a broader strategy aimed at showcasing the strength and resilience of the North Korean state.