Japan weighs letting record-sized North Korean team into Aichi‑Nagoya Asian Games

Tokyo is currently assessing a request to allow a North Korean sports delegation of roughly 180 athletes and officials to enter Japan for the Aichi‑Nagoya Asian Games. The delegation would be the largest North Korean team to visit Japan for a competition. Japan’s sanctions normally prohibit entry by North Korean citizens because of Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile programs, but temporary waivers have been granted for earlier events, such as a Paris Olympic qualifier in February 2024. The General Association of Korean Residents in Japan is taking part in the discussions, and a final decision has not yet been made.