South Korean footballers were left dumbfounded at an international tournament in Indonesia when organisers played the North's anthem instead.
"This is the first time that the North Korean anthem was played instead of Aegukga at any official international match for any level of the national football team," the Korea Football Association said in a statement.
"The operator has (since) been replaced and we have apologised to South Korea verbally and in writing."
But he added that "somebody from the AFC should have monitored or guarded the control room".
At the 2012 Olympics, North Korea's women footballers walked off the pitch ahead of a group match in Glasgow when they were introduced next to images of the South Korean flag.