Some North Korean Asian Games Athletes Arrive in China En Route to Japan

Some members of the North Korean delegation departed Pyongyang and arrived at their transit stop in Beijing, China, on September 8 to participate in the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games opening on the 19th, Kyodo News reported.

According to the report, dozens of athletes and delegation officials, including those from women's football and gymnastics wearing white jackets, were seen boarding a bus at Beijing Airport carrying suitcases.

Those believed to be the advance party are expected to head soon to Japan, where the Asian Games will take place.

Kyodo News reported that Kim Il-guk, the North Korean Sports Minister who is expected to lead the delegation, was not spotted at Beijing Airport on this day.

North Korea had previously listed Sports Minister Kim as the head of the delegation in the list of athletes submitted to the Japanese side.

The Japanese government reportedly decided to allow the entry of the North Korean delegation, which had expressed its intention to participate in the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.

Although the Japanese government in principle bans the entry of North Korean nationals as part of its unilateral sanctions over nuclear and missile development, it sometimes makes exceptions for sports exchanges.

Once entry is permitted, the North Korean women's national football team is scheduled to play its first group-stage match against Bangladesh in Osaka on the 14th.

The size of the North Korean delegation participating in this Asian Games is approximately 180 people including officials, making it the largest-ever North Korean sports delegation to visit Japan for a athletic competition.

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