White blazers, pink ties as North Koreans land in Japan for Asian Games

TOKYO - North Korean athletes sporting white blazers, pink ties, and surgical masks commenced their arrival in Japan on Friday to compete in the Asian Games. Over 100 North Koreans are expected to participate in 14 sports at the Games, which commence on September 19 in Nagoya-Aichi. The football team, men and women, touched down in Osaka on a flight from Beijing around midday. Their blazers bore the North Korean flag, complemented by blue trousers and light blue shirts.

The North Korean women's football team, noted for their youth-level international success, is set to arrive in the evening. Notably, North Korea had suspended participation in international sporting events during the pandemic but returned for the Asian Games in China in 2023 and also participated in the Paris Olympics. While the Asian Games don't officially kick off until the following weekend, some sporting events, such as football, begin earlier.

The North Korean men's team kick off their football campaign against China on September 16. Their women's team are scheduled to face Bangladesh on Monday and will play against South Korea on September 21. Japan prohibits North Koreans from entering the country due to their nuclear and missile development programs, but exceptions are made for visiting athletes. The two nations have no diplomatic relations.

A pro-North Korean group in Tokyo has urged Japanese people to support the athletes. A video by Choson Sinbo, a pro-North Korean publication based in Japan, featured university students demonstrating how to cheer for teams at the Games. The students chanted and sang in support of the teams, urging people to attend wearing red, the color of North Korea.