Olympic organizers offered a “deep apology” after South Korean athletes were mistakenly introduced as North Koreans at the opening ceremony in Paris. As the excited, flag-waving team made their way down the Seine, French and British commentators introduced them as the “Democratic People’s Republic of Korea” (North Korea’s official name). The same exact name was then used by the North Korean delegation as they passed through. The two Koreas have been divided since World War II, and tensions between the two countries have risen further in recent times.

However, the correct title was displayed in subtitles that ran at the bottom of the TV broadcast.South Korea’s Sports Ministry said it plans to file a “stern complaint at the government level with France” over the embarrassing gaffe. The ministry said in a statement it “regrets the announcement introducing the South Korean delegation as the North Korean team.” The statement added that 2008 Olympic weightlifting champion Jang Mi-ran, second vice minister of sports, had requested a meeting with Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) apologized on its official Korean-language X account, saying, “We deeply apologize for the error that occurred during the introduction of the South Korean delegation at the opening ceremony.” South Korea, officially known as the Republic of Korea, has 143 athletes on its Olympic team this year, competing in 21 sports. North Korea sent a delegation of 16 athletes, marking the country’s first time taking part in the Olympics since the Rio 2016 Games.