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![North Korean leader Kim Jong-un compliments the under-17 female footballers representing North Korea during a domestic exhibition match held in North Korea, in a photo carried by Rodong Sinmun on June 2. [YONHAP]](https://image.koreajoongangdaily.com/12578190.jpg?imageId=12578190&width=240&height=184&format=webp&format=jpg)
![Korea's Lee Ki-hyeok, Kim Min-jae, Cho Gue-sung and Lee Han-beom, from left, take up their positions for a corner kick in a friendly against El Salvador ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Brigham Young University's South Field in Provo, Utah, on June 3. [NEWS1]](https://image.koreajoongangdaily.com/12554974.jpg?imageId=12554974&width=240&height=184&format=webp&format=jpg)
![North Korean leader Kim Jong-un meets and encourages players and coaches after an exhibition match between North Korea's national team, winner of the 2026 AFC U-17 Women's Asian Cup, and Naegohyang Women's FC, winner of the 2025-26 AFC Women's Champions League, at an event marking the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party's Central Cadres Training School on June 1, as reported by the North's Rodong Sinmun the following day. [NEWS1]](https://image.koreajoongangdaily.com/12553480.jpg?imageId=12553480&width=240&height=184&format=webp&format=jpg)
![Lee Jae-sung trains at the Zions Bank Training Center in Herriman, Utah, on June 2, ahead of the 2026 World Cup. [NEWS1]](https://image.koreajoongangdaily.com/12554742.jpg?imageId=12554742&width=240&height=184&format=webp&format=jpg)
![Cho Yu-min says goodbye to the Korea national team football players as he leaves for Korea. [SCREEN CAPTURE]](https://image.koreajoongangdaily.com/12558596.jpg?imageId=12558596&width=240&height=184&format=webp&format=jpg)