"We Are Not 'North Korea'—Call Us DPRK": Protests Interrupt Press Conference

It has been reported that a pro-North Korean organization cheering for the North Korean delegation participating in the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games has requested the use of North Korea's official state name.

Choson Sinbo, the official newspaper of Chongryon (the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan), reported on the 13th that a sports organization affiliated with Chongryon asked Japanese media outlets, including NHK and the Chunichi Shimbun, to use North Korea's official state name.

Their argument is that North Korea's official state name is not "North Korea" or "Buk-joseon," but the "Democratic People's Republic of Korea," and therefore requested the use of its English abbreviation, "DPRK."

Song Su-il, secretary-general acting as a liaison for the North Korea Olympic Committee, explained, "In international sports events such as karate, North Korean representatives are called under 'DPRK,'" adding, "Japanese media outlets should also follow this convention."

He further added, "Using the correct state name is an important first step to protect the dignity of the athletes and safeguard them from political bias."

This is not the first time North Korea has reacted sensitively to its state name.

During the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, North Korea strongly protested not only the term "North Korea" but also the term "North" (Bukcheuk), which both South and North Korea had used in a neutral sense.

In addition, when North Korea's women's football team, Naegohyang Women's Football Club, visited Suwon in May for the semi-finals of the AFC Women's Champions League, manager Ri Yu-il also reacted sensitively to the mention of the word "North Korea."

Immediately after winning the tournament, he showed strong aversion to a reporter's use of the term "North side," causing the press conference to end early.

This marks North Korea's first participation in an Asian Games held in Japan.

It has dispatched 107 athletes across 14 sports events, including football, weightlifting, and wrestling.

Reported by Kim Jiuk | Video by Lee Ui-seon | Graphics by Yook Do-hyun | Produced by SBS Digital News
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.