{
  "id": 3491999,
  "title": "North Korea to ‘bring joy’ to Kim with 100 athletes at Asian Games",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/north-korea-to-bring-joy-to-kim-with-100-athletes-at-asian-games-3491999",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-26T10:58:32.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Hong Kong Free Press",
    "slug": "hong-kong-free-press",
    "url": "https://hongkongfp.com/2026/08/26/north-korea-to-bring-joy-to-kim-with-100-athletes-at-asian-games/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "North Korea plans to send approximately 100 athletes to participate in 14 different sports at the upcoming Asian Games in Japan, according to a senior official. The goal is to \"bring joy to Marshal Kim Jong Un,\" the official said. This comes after North Korea opted to participate in the 2023 Asian Games in China and the 2023 Paris Olympics following a period of suspension during the Covid pandemic. The delegation includes two athletes from Japan with Korean heritage competing in women's football and karate, as revealed by Ko Chol Ho, secretary general of North Korea's Olympic committee. The official expressed enthusiasm to meet the expectations of the country and its people by achieving greater results in this upcoming event. Despite a smaller delegation compared to the 2023 Games, the official hopes for more medals. The athletes are reportedly highly motivated, training daily with the intent to bring pride to their leader. North Korea has recently been vocal in criticizing Japan, which the regime views as a former regional colonial power that has undergone remilitarization.",
  "summary": "North Korea will send about 100 athletes to compete across 14 sports at the Asian Games in Japan next month, a senior official said, aiming to “bring joy to Marshal Kim Jong Un”. The nuclear-armed state suspended participation in international sporting competitions during the Covid pandemic but returned at the Asian Games in China in […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "South China Morning Post",
        "title": "North Korea sharpens anti-Japan rhetoric as Russia ties grow",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/north-korea-sharpens-anti-japan-rhetoric-as-russia-ties-grow",
        "published": "2026-08-26T02:00:09.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "North Korea to ‘bring joy’ to Kim with 100 athletes at Asian Games",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/north-korea-to-bring-joy-to-kim-with-100-athletes-at-asian-games",
        "published": "2026-08-26T05:23:34.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Hong Kong Free Press",
        "title": "North Korea to ‘bring joy’ to Kim with 100 athletes at Asian Games",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/north-korea-to-bring-joy-to-kim-with-100-athletes-at-asian-games-3495704",
        "published": "2026-08-26T10:58:32.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}