Japan Considering Allowing Entry for North Korean Delegation to Nagoya Asian Games

The Japanese government has begun considering allowing the entry of North Korea's athletic delegation, which has expressed its intention to participate in the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games opening on the 19th, Kyodo News reported today (the 7th), citing Japanese government officials.

While the Japanese government in principle bans the entry of North Korean nationals as part of its unilateral sanctions over North Korea's nuclear and missile development, it has exceptionally permitted entry for sports exchanges.

In February 2024, the North Korean women's national football team entered Japan to play in the Paris Olympics final qualifiers, and in March of the same year, the North Korean men's national football team entered Japan to play the third match of the second Asian qualifying round for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Kyodo News also reported, citing sources from the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon), that the size of the North Korean delegation participating in this tournament is expected to be around 180 people, including officials.

This marks the largest-ever scale for a North Korean sports delegation visiting Japan to participate in an athletic event.

Go Chol-ho, Secretary-General of the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of North Korea, stated in an interview with Choson Sinbo, a Chongryon newspaper, last month that they would dispatch a delegation of around 100 athletes across 14 events, including football, weightlifting, and boxing, to this Asian Games.

Meanwhile, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is reportedly not planning to attend the opening ceremony of the Asian Games to be held in Nagoya on the 19th.

According to Kyodo News, a senior Japanese government official told reporters that day, mentioning that Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako are scheduled to declare the opening of the Games.

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.