What did Ri Kwang-chon say about North Korea's goal in the men's football tournament at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games?

Ri Kwang-chon said every team aims to win a medal, but North Korea will first focus on doing its best in the three preliminary matches and advancing from the group stage. He made the remarks before the team’s Pool B opener against China at Wave Stadium Kariya.

Who are North Korea's opponents in Pool B at the Asian Games men's football competition?

North Korea is in Pool B with the United Arab Emirates, Iran and China. Its next match is scheduled against the UAE on Sunday.

Why was Ri Kwang-chon moved by the atmosphere in Japan during the Asian Games?

He said he was impressed by hundreds of Japanese residents of North Korean descent who wore red shirts and cheered for the women’s football team in Osaka. He said their enthusiastic support touched him and may have helped the women’s team’s 10-0 win over Bangladesh.

N. Korean men's football coach vows best possible result at Asian Games

Listen

Summary

North Korea’s men’s football coach Ri Kwang-chon vowed to aim for the best possible result at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in Nagoya on Tuesday. He said the team’s first goal is to do its best in the three preliminary matches and advance from the group stage. The team is in Pool B with the United Arab Emirates, Iran and China, and its next match is against the UAE on Sunday. Ri also said he was moved by support from Japanese residents of North Korean descent cheering for the women’s team.

Key Facts

The 20th Asian Games will officially open on Saturday, and some sports including football and basketball are already under way.
North Korea is grouped in Pool B with the United Arab Emirates, Iran and China.
The top two teams from each of four groups will advance to the quarterfinals.
North Korea’s women’s football team defeated Bangladesh 10-0 in a Group F match at Nagai Stadium in Osaka on Monday.

By Yonhap

Published Sep 15, 2026 5:09 pm KST

Signages of the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 on display in Nagoya, central Japan, May 21. Reuters-Yonhap

NAGOYA — The coach of North Korea's men's football team on Tuesday pledged to produce the best possible results at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, underscoring strong support from people of North Korean descent in Japan.

"Every team aims to win a medal. We will do our best and work toward our goals," coach Ri Kwang-chon said during a press conference ahead of their first Pool B match against China at Wave Stadium Kariya in Kariya, just southeast of Nagoya.

"Our first goal is to do our best in the three preliminary matches and advance from the group stage."

The 20th Asian Games, the first continental multisport event to take place in Japan in 32 years, will officially open on Saturday, with some sports, such as football and basketball, already under way.

North Korea is grouped in Pool B along with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Iran and China. Its next match against the UAE is slated for Sunday.

The top two teams from each of four groups will advance to the quarterfinals.

Ri Kwang-chon, coach of North Korea's men's football team, speaks during a press conference at Wave Stadium Kariya in Kariya, just southeast of Nagoya, Tuesday. Xportsnews

Ri said he was impressed by the hundreds of Japanese residents of North Korean descent, all wearing red shirts and cheering for the North Korean women's football team during their Asian Games opener against Bangladesh at Nagai Stadium in Osaka on Monday.

The North Korean women's team routed Bangladesh 10-0 in a Group F match to begin its gold-medal pursuit.

"I think the women's team won in response to the enthusiastic support from our compatriots," Ri said. "I was touched by their enthusiastic cheers when we arrived in Japan."

However, he declined to answer a question from a South Korean reporter about his goals for the Asian Games, as North Korea has sent a large-scale delegation to Japan for the first time.

"That question seems unrelated to the competition," he said.

Explore More