How many North Korean athletes are competing at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games and in which sports?

North Korea said 107 athletes will compete across 14 sports. The delegation includes participants in football, weightlifting, table tennis and wrestling.

How did North Korea’s women’s football team start its Asian Games campaign?

The women’s team, which arrived in Osaka last week, began with a 10-0 rout of Bangladesh in Group F on Monday. The men’s team was set to face China later Wednesday in a Pool B match at Wave Stadium Kariya.

N. Korea's minister-led delegation departs for Asian Games in Japan

Q: Who led North Korea’s delegation to the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in Japan?

Kim Il-guk, North Korea’s minister of physical culture and sports, led the delegation out of Pyongyang International Airport. First Vice Minister Kim Yong-gwon saw the group off, according to KCNA.

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Summary

A North Korean delegation left Pyongyang for Japan to attend the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, state media reported Wednesday. Kim Il-guk, minister of physical culture and sports, led the delegation, and First Vice Minister Kim Yong-gwon saw them off. North Korea will field 107 athletes in 14 sports, including football, weightlifting, table tennis and wrestling, at the Games running from Saturday to Oct. 4.

Key Facts

The North Korean women’s football team arrived in Osaka last week and opened its campaign Monday with a 10-0 win over Bangladesh in Group F.
The men’s football team was scheduled to play China later Wednesday in a Pool B match at Wave Stadium Kariya, southeast of Nagoya.
The Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games run from Saturday to Oct. 4.

By Yonhap

Published Sep 16, 2026 9:04 am KST

The North Korean football team arrives at Kansai International Airport in Osaka, Japan, Sept. 11. Yonhap

A North Korean delegation has left for Japan to attend the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, Pyongyang's state media reported Wednesday.

Kim Il-guk, minister of physical culture and sports, led the delegation out of Pyongyang International Airport the previous day to take part in the 20th Asian Games, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.

First Vice Minister Kim Yong-gwon saw them off, according to the report.

In all, 107 North Korean athletes will compete across 14 sports, including football, weightlifting, table tennis and wrestling, at the Games, which runs from Saturday to Oct. 4.

The North Korean women's football team, which arrived in Osaka last week, opened its campaign Monday with a 10-0 rout of Bangladesh in Group F.

The men's football team was set to play against China later Wednesday in a Pool B match at Wave Stadium Kariya in Kariya, just southeast of Nagoya.

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