North Korean women’s soccer club Naegohyang FC arrived in South Korea on Sunday for an Asian Women’s Champions League semi-final, marking the first visit by athletes from the isolated state to the South in eight years.

The ​delegation of 27 players and 12 staff entered the country ahead of Wednesday’s match against ​South Korea’s Suwon FC Women in Suwon.

The visit has been approved under the ⁠inter-Korean exchange law and covers their stay through next weekend, though the team could leave earlier ​if eliminated, according to Seoul’s Unification Ministry.

Public interest has been strong, with all 7,087 tickets made ​available to the general public selling out within a day, according to Yonhap News Agency, citing South Korea’s football federation.

The rare visit comes as North Korea has in recent years labelled the South its “most hostile state” and ruled ​out reuniting the nation split by the 1950-1953 Korean War.

By contrast, South Korean President Lee ​Jae Myung has called for improved ties.

South Korea’s government has said it would keep its role limited, given ‌that the fixture ⁠is an international club competition, but would provide logistical support for the visiting team.

The Unification Ministry said it has set aside 300 million won ($200,000) from an inter-Korean cooperation fund to support a cheering squad for both sides, citing the event’s potential to promote mutual understanding between the two Koreas.

But ​as the match is ​between clubs and not ⁠national teams, it will not feature national anthems or political symbols, including the Korean Unification flag, in line with Asian Football Confederation rules.

The Korean Unification ​flag, a white flag bearing a blue silhouette of the peninsula, was ​often used ⁠in international sports fixtures involving both sides to represent unity.

Unification Minister Chung Dong-young is also considering attending the match, according to South Korean media.

The semi-final is scheduled to kick off at 7pm ⁠on Wednesday ​in Suwon.

The winner will face either Melbourne City or ​Tokyo Verdy in the final on Saturday.

If Naegohyang lose, the North Korean team is expected to return home the following ​day, the ministry said.