North Korea’s Advance Team Arrives in Beijing; About 180 Seek Entry into Japan

【Financial News Tokyo = Correspondent Hye-jin Seo】Some members of North Korea’s delegation arrived in Beijing, a transit point, after departing Pyongyang on the 8th to participate in the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya, which opens on the 19th.
According to Kyodo News, dozens of people, including women’s soccer and gymnastics athletes wearing white jackets and delegation officials, were seen boarding a bus at Beijing airport with their luggage. They are believed to be the delegation’s advance team and are expected to travel to Japan soon.
Sports Minister Kim Il-guk, who is known to be leading North Korea’s delegation, was not seen at Beijing airport that day. North Korea listed Kim as the head of the delegation on the roster submitted to Japan.
The Japanese government is considering exceptionally allowing the entry of North Korea’s delegation, which has expressed its intention to participate in the Asian Games. Japan generally bans the entry of North Korean nationals under its unilateral sanctions over North Korea’s nuclear and missile development, but it has made exceptions for participation in international sporting events.
If entry is permitted, North Korea’s women’s national soccer team will play its first group-stage match against Bangladesh in Osaka on the 14th, ahead of the opening ceremony.
The North Korean delegation traveling to Japan this time is estimated to number about 180 people, including officials. It is the largest North Korean delegation ever sent to Japan to participate in a sporting event.

[email protected] Hye-jin Seo Reporter