The DPRK’s laudable girl football players, who were welcomed by their motherland as victorious heroes after demonstrating the dignity and mettle of their great state before the world by winning gold medals, greeted a moment of joy and happiness to be cherished as an honour throughout their life. 

Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, met the players and coaches who won the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup at the headquarters building of the WPK Central Committee on September 30. 

Present there were Kim Il Guk, minister of Physical Culture and Sports, and Sin Yong Chol, secretary of the DPRK Football Association. 

Entering the yard of the Party Central Committee with the proud winners’ trophy and gold medals, the players and coaches were filled with boundless reverence and gratitude for the benevolent father, who gave them matchless strength and courage to make sure that they always run with confidence in sure victory in the fierce matches for glorifying the honour of their motherland, and bestowed warm blessings and great favours, giving credit to them for all the successes. 

When the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un appeared, the players and coaches broke into cheers of “Hurrah!” in tears of great emotion and rushed to him, whom they wanted to see so much. 

The fatherly Marshal gladly received the proud daughters of the country, and congratulated them on creating another legendary tale about the DPRK’s women football by beating their strong rivals of Austria, Brazil, the US, Japan and other countries, scoring 25 amazing goals in seven matches from the group league matches to the finals of the world cup. 

In particular, he highly praised Choe Il Son who won the Golden Ball award for the most valuable player and Golden Boot award for the top scorer in the championships, and senior coach Ri Song Ho who led the team to victory after victory. 

He said that the proud victory won by our girl footballers, bearing in mind the expectations of the country and the people, serves as an encouraging event and patriotic deed that added optimism and joy to the whole country. 

Sports is very great meaningful in promoting the progress and advantages of the nation, he said, adding that every precious success made by the DPRK’s sportspersons in international games is further uniting the people and dynamically arousing them to the vigorous struggle with characteristic appeal and influence. 

He warmly wished that the players, who displayed the bright prospect of the DPRK’s women football, would firmly hold the Asian and world championship titles and further consolidate their position. 

In congratulation of them, he had a picture taken with them, who had the glory and fortune of having given a great joy and optimism to all the people across the country. 

Unable to repress their deep emotion at the great love and trust shown by the fatherly Marshal, the players and coaches made a firm determination to bring more gold medals and brilliant gold trophies of patriotism to the glorious DPRK, their motherland.