Zainichi Korean football player Ri Song-a under spotlight at 2026 Asian Games

Japanese media are focusing on Ri Song-a, a Zainichi Korean football player from North Korea participating in the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. Zainichi Koreans are ethnic Koreans residing in Japan, descendants of those who migrated during Japan's colonial era. Yomiuri Shimbun reported on Tuesday that "North Korea won its opening women’s football match by a large margin," adding that "the Japanese government made an exception to permit North Korean athletes to enter the country."

The North Korean women’s national football team, coached by Pak Song-jin, triumphed over Bangladesh with a score of 10-0 in their Group F opener at Nagai Stadium in Osaka on Monday. North Korea is renowned as a formidable force in women’s football at the Asian Games, aiming for its first gold medal since the 2014 Incheon Games. The team showcased its attacking prowess from the outset of this year’s tournament. Ri Song-a kicked off the match and played the entire 90 minutes. She scored one of the goals.