North Korea, which secured its first gold medal in the women's 49kg weightlifting event at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, reacted angrily when the term "North Korea" was used instead of its official state name during an official press conference.

During the medalist press conference held today (the 23rd) at the Fukiage Hall in Nagoya, Japan, following her victory with a world record in the women's 49kg weightlifting event, an official from the North Korean delegation interrupted a South Korean reporter who used the term "North Korea" to ask about thoughts on securing the first gold medal, expressing displeasure by saying, "Phrase your words correctly again."

Although the reporter rephrased the question by referring to North Korea as "Choson," the delegation completely refused to answer the question.

Throughout this tournament, terms such as "North Korea" or "North Korea" in English have rarely been mentioned.

Even when North Korea is announced over the venue's public address system, its official state name, the "Democratic People's Republic of Korea," is used.

Ahead of the games, the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) even held a press conference to request the Japanese media to use the official state name.

This is seen as a sensitive reaction by North Korea, which has thoroughly separated its relations with South Korea under the "two hostile states" theory, reacting strongly to the term "North Korea," which implies a special ethnic relationship.

Considering this sensitivity, South Korean reporters covering the Asian Games have also been avoiding the country name entirely during press conferences for North Korean matches, or using workaround terms such as "the Republic."

Ri Song-gum, the main subject of the press conference that day, generally gave fluent answers without showing aversion, except for the question that caused an issue over the "North Korea" designation.

Regarding her thoughts on setting a world record and winning the gold medal, she said, "I love my country. For today's competition, I wanted to lift my country up on my two small shoulders."

As for the secret to her victory, she attributed the glory of the gold medal to her country, stating, "It is not because I am exceptional. It is because I stepped onto today's competition stage carrying the trust and expectations bestowed upon me by my country and its people."

The presenter who placed the gold medal around Ri's neck that day was North Korea's Sports Minister Kim Il-guk, who is visiting Japan in his capacity as the chairman of the National Olympic Committee of North Korea.

He placed the gold medal on Ri while wearing a badge bearing the face of State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un.

Ri appeared to be overcome with emotion, shedding tears while hugging Sports Minister Kim.

(Photo: Yonhap News)