{
  "id": 3439628,
  "title": "North Korea to send around 100 athletes to Asian Games in Japan",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/north-korea-to-send-around-100-athletes-to-asian-games-in-japan",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-26T05:44:38.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Business Recorder",
    "slug": "business-recorder",
    "url": "https://www.brecorder.com/news/40436593/north-korea-to-send-around-100-athletes-to-asian-games-in-japan"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "North Korea is set to send approximately 100 athletes representing 14 different sports to the upcoming Asian Games taking place in Japan, according to the committee's secretary general. This announcement was made to a Tokyo-based newspaper, despite the strained relations between the two nations. Notably, North Korea decided against sending a delegation to the Tokyo Summer Olympics in 2021 due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The current team size is comparatively smaller than the 185 athletes and 18 sports that participated in the last Asian Games (Asiad) held in Hangzhou, China, in 2023. The Hangzhou Games resulted in a commendable performance for North Korea, with 11 gold, 18 silver, and 10 bronze medals.\n\nAccording to sources within North Korea, Ko Chol Ho, the committee's secretary general, expressed his hope that the reduced team would be capable of securing more medals than the previous edition. The recent pandemic led Pyongyang to impose strict limitations on sports participation for its athletes worldwide. Consequently, North Korea did not participate in the 2022 and 2026 Winter Olympics. For the 20th Asian Games, expected to be held from September 19 to October 4 in Nagoya and other Japanese cities, over 11,000 athletes from 45 countries are anticipated to compete.",
  "summary": "North Korea will send around 100 athletes competing in 14 sports to the Asian Games in Japan later this year, the secretary general of the country’s Olympic Committee has told a Tokyo-based newspaper. Relations with Japan are frequently strained and North Korea decided not to send a team to the Tokyo Summer Olympics in 2021, citing the global health crisis. The size of the team is down on the…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Japan Times",
        "title": "Japan to keep gas pump prices at around ¥170",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/japan-to-keep-gas-pump-prices-at-around-170",
        "published": "2026-08-26T02:17:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}