North Korea to ‘bring joy’ to Kim with 100 athletes at Asian Games

North Korea plans to send approximately 100 athletes to compete in 14 sports at the upcoming Asian Games in Japan, according to a senior official. The decision aims to bring joy to Marshal Kim Jong Un, whose regime has a history of prioritizing sporting achievements. The team includes athletes from various disciplines such as weightlifting, football, karate, boxing, and wrestling.

North Korea's participation resumed after a hiatus during the Covid pandemic, with the delegation fielding members for the 2023 Asian Games held in China and the 2023 Paris Olympics. Two ethnic Koreans who reside in Japan are also part of the team, representing women's football and karate. Ko Chol Ho, secretary general of North Korea's Olympic committee, expressed the team's determination to perform better than their previous performance, which earned the country 11 gold medals during the 2023 Hangzhou Games, with half of them coming from weightlifting.

The official emphasized high morale among athletes, who are diligently training with the goal of winning more medals to please their leader. North Korea has recently criticized Japan for its perceived shift towards increased military capabilities in the region.