Asian Games organisers say sorry for playing North Korean anthem for South Korea

Organisers of the Asian Games in Japan have said sorry after the North Korean national anthem was mistakenly played for South Korea’s men’s hockey team.

South Korea had just beaten Bangladesh 5-0 when the wrong anthem was played during the medal ceremony.

According to BBC Sport on Friday, the South Korean players looked confused as the North Korean anthem played inside the stadium.

South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency reported that Bangladesh’s national anthem played next before South Korea’s correct anthem was finally heard.

A stadium announcer later apologised for the mix-up.

South Korea coach Min Tae-seok called the incident a serious mistake.

“When we protested, they said, ‘We’re sorry. It wasn’t that it wasn’t prepared; there was a mistake on the part of those responsible for playing it,’” he said.

“But this is something that simply should never happen.”

This mistake comes as organisers deal with other complaints about preparations for the Games, which officially start on Saturday.

A member of South Korea’s basketball team shared a video showing a leaking pipe and water covering the floor of his room, with the message, “Please help me.”

Some teams have also faced delays after arriving in Japan. Some players were stuck at the airport for as long as six hours.

Field hockey started on Friday and will go on until October 3.