North Korea sends 100 athletes to Asian Games with mission to ‘bring joy to Marshal Kim Jong Un’

TOKYO, Aug 26 — North Korea plans to field approximately 100 athletes across 14 sports at the upcoming Asian Games in Japan, with the primary goal of bringing happiness to their leader, Marshal Kim Jong Un. The nation had refrained from participating in international sporting events during the Covid pandemic but returned to competition at the 2023 Asian Games held in China and also competed in the Paris Olympics.

The team for the regional Games in Nagoya and the Aichi region comprises two athletes of Japanese-Korean descent, participating in women's football and karate, according to Ko Chol Ho, secretary general of North Korea’s Olympic committee. Speaking from Pyongyang, Ko expressed his team's commitment to achieving greater results at the upcoming Games, driven by a strong desire to fulfill the expectations of their country and people.

The delegation will be smaller than the one sent to the 2023 Hangzhou Games, but Ko expressed hope for a higher medal count. Despite North Korea's history of success in weightlifting, winning 11 gold medals last time, the official emphasized the high morale among athletes, who are training diligently each day with the sole purpose of bringing joy to their leader.

Recently, North Korea has unleashed criticism against Japan, the former regional colonial power, over allegations of remilitarisation.