North Korean anthem played by mistake before South Korea vs Bangladesh hockey match at Asian Games

Organisers of the Asian Games in Japan mistakenly played the anthem of North Korea before a women's hockey match between South Korea and Bangladesh on Saturday, prompting immediate criticism from the South Korean delegation. The error occurred during the opening ceremony of the group‑stage fixture held at the Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium in Nagoya, where the music intended to honor the South Korean team was incorrectly selected from a pre‑recorded playlist.

The Japanese Asian Games committee issued an apology shortly after the incident, attributing the mix‑up to a technical oversight in the event’s audio system. South Korean officials lodged a formal complaint, and the International Olympic Committee was notified to assess any procedural breaches. Organisers have pledged to review and tighten anthem verification protocols ahead of upcoming matches to prevent a recurrence.