Ri Yu-il, the coach of North Korea's My Hometown Women's Football Team, walked out of a press conference after expressing dissatisfaction with the term "North Side" during discussions about his team's victory.
According to Yonhap News on May 23, My Hometown secured the championship title by defeating Japan's Tokyo Verdy Beleza 1-0 in the final of the 2025-2026 AFC Women's Champions League held at Suwon Sports Complex.
During the press conference following the match, Coach Ri expressed his gratitude, stating, "My Hometown has only been established for 14 years, and now we are the best in Asia," while thanking Kim Jong-un, the Chairman of North Korea's State Affairs Commission, and the ruling party.
He added, "I am incredibly proud of the players who have followed my guidance through difficult times to achieve this moment. I also want to thank the families and supporters who have wholeheartedly supported us to win."
My Hometown arrived in South Korea on May 17 for the tournament, marking the first time a North Korean women's football club has visited since the 2014 Incheon Asian Games.
When asked about his experience in South Korea, Ri said, "We were able to play here due to the Asian Football Confederation's arrangements. We focused solely on football, winning, and our development, without any distractions."
With this victory, My Hometown also earned the right to represent Asia in the FIFA Women's Club World Cup.
Ri emphasized, "My Hometown is a team with a very short history, and today we are experiencing a historic moment as we advance to the world stage as the best team in Asia. The emotions and excitement are beyond words."
He continued, "As a coach, the awards ceremony is over, and now we have new challenges ahead. I will do my best to achieve good results on the big stage that lies ahead."
However, the atmosphere shifted unexpectedly during the press conference when a South Korean reporter remarked, "The women's football on the 'North Side' has been of a high standard historically."
Ri expressed discomfort with the term "North Side" to his interpreter, who then requested, "Please use the correct name for the country." Ri subsequently stated, "I will not take questions from that person," and left the press conference.
Previously, during a press conference after a victory against South Korea in the quarterfinals of the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, Ri had also objected when a South Korean reporter referred to North Korea as the "North Side," insisting, "It is not the North Side; it is the Democratic People's Republic of Korea."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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