*This content was translated by AI.
A portion of the North Korean delegation, including the men's national football team participating in the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, arrived in Japan on the 11th via Osaka Kansai International Airport. The delegation members wore white tops and blue pants and donned masks. The women's national football team is scheduled to arrive later that evening.
This delegation consists of approximately 180 people, including over 100 athletes competing in 14 sports such as football, weightlifting, and table tennis (including two members affiliated with Chongryon), along with officials and support staff. This marks the largest North Korean delegation ever to visit Japan for a sporting event.
Although the Japanese government maintains independent sanctions prohibiting entry by North Korean nationals, an exception was granted for sports exchange purposes, allowing their arrival the previous day. Kim Il-guk, North Korea's Minister of Sports, is reportedly coordinating his own visit to Japan to observe the competition.
The men's football team that has entered Japan will face China (on the 16th), the United Arab Emirates (on the 20th), and Iran (on the 23rd) in Group B of the group stage. The women's team, competing in Group F, will play against Bangladesh (on the 14th) and Myanmar (on the 17th), before facing the South Korean national team led by coach Shin Sang-woo in a North-South match at 4 p.m. on the 21st.
Meanwhile, the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) has designated its welcome and support for this delegation as a "patriotic cause" through its newspaper Chosun Sinbo, planning to launch large-scale cheering events throughout the duration of the competition.
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*This content was translated by AI.
