"Reporters, Don't Ask Me Questions Like That"—North Korean Women's Football Coach Bristles at Question About 'Inter-Korean Match'

[Financial News] Pak Song-jin, who coaches North Korea's women's football team, showed signs of discomfort at a post-match press conference after being repeatedly asked about the significance of the "inter-Korean matchup" following North Korea's 1-1 draw with South Korea at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.
According to EDaily on the 21st, Pak's North Korean women's national football team drew 1-1 with South Korea in the third Group F match at Shizuoka Stadium ECOPA in Fukuroi City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan.
At the post-match press conference, questions focused less on the result itself and more on the special significance of a match between North and South Korea.
Asked whether he had given his players any special instructions ahead of the match against South Korea, Pak replied, "We played football. Whoever the opponent is, you just play according to that team. That's all I have to say."
When a German reporter asked whether he had shaken hands with South Korean coach Shin Sang-woo after the match, Pak again said, "We played football. I have nothing more to say."
As similar questions continued, Pak's tone changed. After the North Korean interpreter gave a lengthy explanation while relaying the question, emphasizing that the match had been nothing special, Pak said, "That's a strange question. We played football. Football."
A Japanese reporter then asked again whether he considered South Korea a special opponent. Pak drew a clear line, saying, "I don't consider them special. I view all opponents the same," and added, "Myanmar and Bangladesh, whom we met in the group, are all just opposing teams to us."
He reportedly raised his voice and said, "Reporters, please don't ask me questions like that."
The atmosphere at the press conference eased somewhat after a South Korean reporter asked a question. When asked whether he was simply going to play football and leave, Pak smiled and replied, "What else would I do besides play football?" He then added, "I don't do anything other than football."
Pak expressed his gratitude for the support from compatriots affiliated with Chongryon, the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan, who attended the match. "The enthusiastic support from our Chongryon compatriots gave the team tremendous strength and encouragement," he said.
About 200 Koreans living in Japan, who had gathered from across the country, wore matching red T-shirts and cheered for the North Korean team.

[email protected] Seong Min-seo Reporter