“Ri Kum Suk is widely known as highly skilled forward and prolific scorer. During her professional career as a player she took part in over 100 matches and scored some 120 goals, demonstrating her ability as a world-class football ace,” said Kim Chol Ung, department director of the Football Association of the DPRK.
Born to an ordinary worker’s family in Sapho District, Hamhung of South Hamgyong Province, she began to play football at Sapho District juvenile sports school of the city as a junior middle school student.
She was picked out by the April 25 Sports Club in 1993 and cut a fine figure in several local tournaments.
She became a member of the national team in 1996 when the DPRK women’s soccer was in its heyday with many talented players included in it.
An excellent forward and gifted header, she made a crucial contribution to the team DPRK’s winning a series of international events.
In particular, she scored a winning goal in the final match with Japan in the 13th Asian women’s football championships, receiving the top scorer award of the event.
She also made decisive goals in the final matches of the 14th Asian women’s football championships and the 14th and 15th Asian Games, earning their top scorer and most valuable player awards.
She scored a hat-trick against Australia in the semifinals of the 16th Asian women’s football championships and won the top scorer and most valuable player awards of the event.
She also made her presence known in the team of world women’s soccer stars as she was invited to it.
“Ri was active as captain of the women’s national team for a long time. She not only had high skills but also the knack of playmaking, that is, she sensitively grasped the game tactics of the coach and commanded the teammates to play accordingly. So her presence in the field often decided the team’s morale and the development of matches,” said Kim.
She is now devoting her time and energy to training national team players as a women’s football coach at the April 25 Sports Club.
More From Pyongyang Times
Developing countries are paying close attention to education, regarding it as a crucial issue for achieving national prosperity.
December 10, 2025
Developing countries are paying close attention to education, regarding it as a crucial issue for achieving national prosperity.
The Hungarian minister of foreign affairs and trade opposed a plan of the European Union to ban the import of Russian energy throu
December 10, 2025
The Hungarian minister of foreign affairs and trade opposed a plan of the European Union to ban the import of Russian energy throu
Japan continues to contaminate the sea with successive discharge of nuclear waste water.On December 4 the Tokyo Electric Power Com
December 10, 2025
Japan continues to contaminate the sea with successive discharge of nuclear waste water.On December 4 the Tokyo Electric Power Com
Agricultural workers moved with pleasure into the modern houses newly built in farm villages of Jagang Province as part of the
December 10, 2025
Agricultural workers moved with pleasure into the modern houses newly built in farm villages of Jagang Province as part of the
The Samjigang Farm in Jaeryong County of South Hwanghae Province has overfulfilled its state grain production plan this year, too.
December 10, 2025
The Samjigang Farm in Jaeryong County of South Hwanghae Province has overfulfilled its state grain production plan this year, too.
The Kangso Sprayer Factory has produced a lot of backpack sprayers to send them to the socialist countryside this year. Among the
December 10, 2025
The Kangso Sprayer Factory has produced a lot of backpack sprayers to send them to the socialist countryside this year. Among the
A delegation of the Ministry of Disaster Management headed by Vice-Minister Ri Ki Chol left Pyongyang on December 8 by air to
December 10, 2025
A delegation of the Ministry of Disaster Management headed by Vice-Minister Ri Ki Chol left Pyongyang on December 8 by air to
The Enlarged Meeting of the 13th Plenary Meeting of the Eighth Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea was convened on
December 10, 2025
The Enlarged Meeting of the 13th Plenary Meeting of the Eighth Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea was convened on
Choe Son Hui, minister of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, sent a message of condolence to Sergei
December 09, 2025
Choe Son Hui, minister of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, sent a message of condolence to Sergei
Bearing in mind the noble soul and spirit of the revolutionary forerunners, youth and students successfully made a study tour of
December 09, 2025
Bearing in mind the noble soul and spirit of the revolutionary forerunners, youth and students successfully made a study tour of
Russian President Vladimir Putin warned European countries against moving toward war at a press conference on December 2. Europe
December 09, 2025
Russian President Vladimir Putin warned European countries against moving toward war at a press conference on December 2. Europe
Recently, Japan has planned to press on with the reexamination of the “three principles of denuclearization” it has maintained
December 09, 2025
Recently, Japan has planned to press on with the reexamination of the “three principles of denuclearization” it has maintained
The workers of the Namhung Youth Chemical Complex and the Hungnam Fertilizer Complex fulfilled their fertilizer production plans
December 09, 2025
The workers of the Namhung Youth Chemical Complex and the Hungnam Fertilizer Complex fulfilled their fertilizer production plans
Agricultural workers of the Taedong Farm in Tongchang County and the Namha Farm in Pyoktong County, North Phyongan Province, have
December 09, 2025
Agricultural workers of the Taedong Farm in Tongchang County and the Namha Farm in Pyoktong County, North Phyongan Province, have
Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's
December 09, 2025
Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's
It has been one year since a ceasefire agreement was concluded between Lebanon and Israel. But in the period Israel has carried
December 08, 2025
It has been one year since a ceasefire agreement was concluded between Lebanon and Israel. But in the period Israel has carried
Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, denounced on December 1 the reckless remarks made by the chairman
December 08, 2025
Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, denounced on December 1 the reckless remarks made by the chairman
The expedition to revolutionary battle sites in the area of Mt Paektu, made up of youth and students from across the DPRK, climbed
December 08, 2025
The expedition to revolutionary battle sites in the area of Mt Paektu, made up of youth and students from across the DPRK, climbed
Modern villages have sprung up at the Hungsang Farm in Ragwon County and the Township Farm in Kumya County, South Hamgyong
December 08, 2025
Modern villages have sprung up at the Hungsang Farm in Ragwon County and the Township Farm in Kumya County, South Hamgyong
South Hamgyong Province has remodelled the Hamhung Koryo Medicine Pharmaceutical Factory. The factory, furnished with dozens of
December 08, 2025
South Hamgyong Province has remodelled the Hamhung Koryo Medicine Pharmaceutical Factory. The factory, furnished with dozens of
More Articles
