Camille Naredo

This undated picture released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on April 3, 2026 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (L) inspecting the Memorial Museum of Combat Feats at the Overseas Military Operations under construction in Pyongyang. KCNA via KNS/AFP/File

This undated picture released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on April 3, 2026 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (L) inspecting the Memorial Museum of Combat Feats at the Overseas Military Operations under construction in Pyongyang. (Photo by KCNA VIA KNS / AFP) / South Korea OUT / ---EDITORS NOTE--- RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO/KCNA VIA KNS" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS
THIS PICTURE WAS MADE AVAILABLE BY A THIRD PARTY. AFP CAN NOT INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THE AUTHENTICITY, LOCATION, DATE AND CONTENT OF THIS IMAGE. /

Article (news)

NORTH KOREA

Agence France-Presse

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1787730817631AFP__20260402__A6MD4ZQ__v2__HighRes__NkoreaPolitics.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="This undated picture released by North Korea&#x27;s official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on April 3, 2026 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (L) inspecting the Memorial Museum of Combat Feats at the Overseas Military Operations under construction in Pyongyang. KCNA via KNS/AFP/File"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">This undated picture released by North Korea&#x27;s official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on April 3, 2026 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (L) inspecting the Memorial Museum of Combat Feats at the Overseas Military Operations under construction in Pyongyang. <em>KCNA via KNS/AFP/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>TOKYO, Japan — 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 &quot;bring joy to Marshal Kim Jong Un.&quot;</p><p>The nuclear-armed state suspended participation in international sporting competitions during the Covid pandemic but returned at the Asian Games in China in 2023 and also took part in the Paris Olympics.</p><p>The team for the regional Games in Nagoya and the Aichi region includes two Japan-based ethnic Koreans competing in women&#x27;s football and karate, said Ko Chol Ho, secretary general of North Korea&#x27;s Olympic committee.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/othersports/2026/5/23/north-korean-women-crowned-asian-club-champions-in-south-1932">READ: North Korean women crowned Asian club champions in South</a></div><p>&quot;Our delegation will send more than 100 athletes to compete in 14 sports, including men&#x27;s and women&#x27;s football, weightlifting, boxing and wrestling,&quot; Ko told Choson Sinbo, a pro-North Korean publication based in Japan, during an interview in Pyongyang.</p><p>&quot;We are making every effort, driven by a strong desire to live up to the expectations of our country and people by achieving even greater results at the upcoming Games,&quot; the official said, in remarks published Tuesday.</p><p>He noted that the delegation would be smaller than the one sent to the Hangzhou Games of 2023 but said he hoped it would win more medals.</p><p>Authoritarian North Korea won 11 golds last time, half of them in weightlifting.</p><p>The official said that morale among the athletes was high for the event, which runs from September 19 to October 4, and they were motivated to win for their leader.</p><p>&quot;Our athletes are training tirelessly every day, determined to bring joy to Marshal Kim,&quot; he said.</p><p>North Korea has recently been hurling criticism at Japan, a former regional colonial power, over what Pyongyang describes as its remilitarization.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="960" height="540" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wdfLsZBnPWE?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>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."</p>

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."

North Korea to 'bring joy' to Kim with 100 athletes at Asian Games

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

BINI

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

Sports

North Korea to 'bring joy' to Kim with 100 athletes at Asian Games

Agence France-Presse

Published August 26, 2026 03:54 PM PHT

Read More:

Tokyo

Japan

Asian Games

Asiad

North Korea

Kim Jong Un

women's football

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

Sign Up

I have read and agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy.

Haven't received our newsletter?

Check your inbox to verify and confirm your subscription. If you don’t see it, please check your spam or junk folder.

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.