North Korean Advance Team Arrives in Japan... Smiles This Time

The men's national football team, part of the North Korean delegation participating in the Nagoya Asian Games, has arrived locally. Unlike the stern expressions they consistently showed at recent international competitions, they broke into bright smiles this time.

Dressed in white jackets and blue trousers, the North Korean men's football team appeared at Kansai International Airport in Osaka as part of the advance delegation.

While North Korean athletes have recently maintained expressionless faces and remained silent at every international event, this time they received applause, bouquets, and gifts from pro-Pyongyang welcoming crowds, responding with bright smiles.

Although Japan bans the entry of North Korean nationals as part of its sanctions against North Korea, it makes exceptions for participation in sports competitions.

The North Korean delegation, totaling around 180 members, is known to be the largest ever dispatched to Japan.

(Video Editing: Park Jeong-sam)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.