'Please call our country by its proper name'... North Korea's Naegokhwa walks out of press conference unilaterally [Suwon]

*This content was translated by AI.

North Korea's Naegokhwa Women's Football Team, which won the 2025-2026 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women's Champions League (AWCL), walked out of the press conference in protest over domestic journalists' use of the term "North Korea side."

Head coach Li Yu-il and Kim Kyung-yeong left the press conference unilaterally without answering additional questions from journalists during the official 2025-2026 AWCL press conference held at Suwon Sports Complex on the 23rd.

They took issue with the domestic journalists' use of the term "North Korea women's football" when asking about the traditional driving forces behind North Korea women's football.

As soon as they were asked questions, head coach Li Yu-il could not hide his discomfort, and the interpreter also responded sharply, saying "Please rephrase the question," prompting Naegokhwa to protest, "Please call our country by its proper name."

When journalists asked, "Then how should we call it?" even Kim Kyung-yeong, who had been giving quiet and principled answers throughout the press conference, firmly replied, "We are the Democratic People's Republic of Korea."

Afterward, Li Yu-il and Kim Kyung-yeong, who seemed about to answer questions from other journalists, stood up from their seats without seeking separate permission from domestic and foreign journalists and left the press conference.

This is not the first time North Korea has become upset over the use of its country name at an official press conference.

North Korea previously protested the use of the term "North Korea side" during the women's football tournament at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, stating, "Correct it to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and ask again. If you do not correct it, we will not answer." Coincidentally, the head coach of the Yeo Ja-chuk-gu (CEO) team at that time was Li Yu-il.

Prior to that, during the 2014 Incheon Asian Games, North Korea requested that it be referred to as "North Korea" or "Democratic People's Republic of Korea" instead of "North Korea side," but this time it reacted sensitively even to the term "North Korea side" and ultimately left the press conference.

Ironically, while North Korea has historically reacted sensitively to its country name, it has at times labeled South Korea as a "puppet" in TV video subtitles.

Before the walkout from the press conference, head coach Li Yu-il said, "The team was founded only 14 years ago, yet we have reached the number one position in Asia today. I believe this was possible only because of the warm love, care, and trust of the respected General Secretary and the Party." He added, "As a coach, I cannot help but feel happy that I was able to repay, even in a small way, the great love and trust given to Seon Su-dan-eul (CEO)."

He continued, "We came here (to Korea) at the invitation of the AFC and played matches. Both I and the players prioritized the matches and worked hard, saving every minute and second, to achieve the desired results. We focused solely on football, winning the championship, and our development. There was no reason to concern ourselves with other such matters."

Head coach Li Yu-il added, "I am truly proud and gratified that our players endured the difficult heat for this moment and followed my coaching instructions. Finally, I would like to express my gratitude to all our families and the grateful individuals who wholeheartedly supported and honored us to become number one."

Kim Kyung-yeong, selected as the tournament's most valuable player and attending the press conference, said, "As a Naegokhwa player, I regard being selected as the most valuable player with pride. This achievement was not due to my individual merit alone, but because all the team's players, coaches, and comrades strongly supported me from behind."

On this day, Naegokhwa defeated Tokyo Verdy 1-0, with Kim Kyung-yeong scoring the decisive first goal, to claim the championship. The prize money for the championship is 1 million dollars (approximately 1.52 billion won).

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*This content was translated by AI.