“If you don’t say the country’s name correctly, you won’t be asked questions.”
Press conference at the National Stadium in Tokyo, Japan on the 27th. At the North Korean national team press conference held on the afternoon of the 27th ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics women’s soccer Asian final qualifying match between North Korea and Japan, coach Lee Yu-il’s face suddenly hardened.
When a South Korean reporter asked, “I wonder where the power of North Korean women’s soccer comes from,” Coach Lee cut off the question before he could finish.
Director Lee said, “I’m sorry, but you have to sing the country’s name correctly. “We are not the North Korean team, but the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea team,” he said. “If you do not sing the country’s name correctly, we will not be asked questions.”
There was awkward silence in the press conference room for several seconds. Later, when a reporter omitted the country name and asked, “I wonder where the power of women’s soccer comes from,” Coach Lee responded, “The desire to shine the country we represent, the desire to repay the expectations of family and friends as a player, and the desire to develop soccer.” “The driving force is my desire to do something and contribute even a little,” he said. The women’s soccer match between North Korea and Japan will be held at the Tokyo National Stadium at 6:30 pm on the 28th. The following is a Q&A with North Korean women’s soccer team coach Ri Yu-il.
View largerNorth Korean women’s soccer team coach Ri Yu-il (right) and North Korean team officials are taking questions at a press conference on the 27th. Tokyo = –
What are your preparations for tomorrow’s game?
“There is nothing more to say about the importance of this match. The players, myself, and my compatriots are also supporting me a lot, so I will do my best to bring good results. “Because we are a team representing our country with the national flag on our chest, we must go (to Paris) for the honor of our country.”
-Where does the power of North Korean women’s soccer come from?
“I’m sorry, but you have to say the country’s name correctly. Because we are not a North Korean team, but a Democratic People’s Republic of Korea team. (Let’s ask again without the country name later) The driving force is the desire to bring glory to the country we represent, the desire to repay the expectations of family and friends as a player, and the desire to develop soccer and contribute even a little.”
View largerJapanese and foreign reporters fill the North Korean women’s soccer team press conference held at the Tokyo National Stadium on the 27th. Tokyo = -Who are the Japanese players you are wary of?
“Japan has players who are performing well in Europe and around the world. “I think Hasegawa and others’ abilities are outstanding.”
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Many people came to the airport to cheer on the player.
“Most of the players on our team are young, so it was their first time coming to Japan. There were some concerns because it was an unfamiliar land, but our compatriots welcomed us warmly. “I will do my best to achieve good results in tomorrow’s game without feeling unfamiliar and feeling like it is my home.”
-How did you prepare?
“As you know, the weather in Pyongyang is cold and there are various inconveniences, so we went to a warm region in China and trained for about 25 days.”
Tokyo =
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.