North Korea sends large-scale athletes to Asian Games amid criticism from Japan... Reflection of diplomacy centered on ‘national interest’

(Nagoya = Yonhap News) Reporter Jeon Myung-hoon = North Korea has recently been criticizing Japan every day through state-run media, saying that 'militarism' is being revived, but the background is attracting attention by sending a large team of athletes to the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games held in Japan.

North Korea, which announced a thorough 'national interest'-centered diplomatic policy through this year's 9th Party Congress and 15th Supreme People's Assembly, appears to be attempting to show off its status as a normal country by separating sports from politics and further secure its position as a sports and cultural powerhouse.

The Korean Central News Agency reported on the 16th that Sports Minister Kim Il-guk, head of the North Korean Olympic Committee delegation, departed Pyongyang the day before to participate in the Asian Games. This news was also published in the Rodong Sinmun, which North Koreans read.

Sports Minister Kim is expected to enter Japan on the 17th via China. If Sports Minister Kim enters the country, he will become the first high-ranking North Korean official to enter Japan in eight years since 2018. The North Korean official who visited Japan eight years ago was Kim Sports Minister himself.

It is reported that a North Korean delegation of about 180 people from 14 sports is scheduled to arrive in Japan on several flights from the 16th to the 26th. The men's and women's soccer teams, the largest of the athletes, arrived in the country first on the 11th.

Recently, North Korea has been criticizing Japan's 'militarist rampage' day after day in various formats and forms, such as statements by high-ranking figures such as Labor Party Director Kim Yo-jong, comments by state media, and articles by international affairs critics. However, this hostile atmosphere is not reflected in the field of sports.

This is interpreted as a result of North Korea's diplomatic policy of prioritizing 'national interests'.

At the 9th Party Congress last February, North Korea said, "All external activities must be carried out based on the principle of thoroughly protecting national interests," and Chairman Kim Jong-un of the State Affairs Commission emphasized in his speech at the 15th Supreme People's Assembly in March, "We must ensure that national external activities are entirely focused on guaranteeing the dignity and interests of the country."

Regardless of political and diplomatic relations with Japan, North Korea's will to focus on achieving national benefits, such as the image of a 'normal country' participating in international sports competitions, is visible.

In particular, given that North Korea is emphasizing nationality by emphasizing the two-nation theory, it appears that it is trying to be recognized as a normal country by participating in international competitions where many countries participate and compete.

In particular, given that North Korea is emphasizing nationality by emphasizing the two-nation theory, it appears that it is trying to be recognized as a normal country by participating in international competitions where many countries participate and compete.

It is understandable in this context that the General Association of Koreans in Japan, which will support the North Korean athletes, recently requested the Japanese media to use the official name of the country.

In addition, if they meet 'old enemies' such as Korea and Japan during the Asian Games and win or win medals in various events, there is a possibility that this will be used as an opportunity to promote the system.

In fact, while North Korea 'acknowledged South Korea as the most hostile country' amid the two hostile countries, it sent its hometown women's soccer team to South Korea and won the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women's Champions League (AWCL) in the 2025-2026 season, and widely publicized this achievement.

Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies, analyzed, "The goal is to show solidarity externally and solidify North Korea's influence within the Korean community in Japan by encouraging large-scale cheering from Chongryon and Chosun School students."

If the overall results of the competition exceed expectations, North Korea, which has claimed the status of a nuclear state, may attempt to secure its position as a 'socialist power' not only in the military field but also in the sports field.

North Korea has reduced the size of its team compared to the previous Hangzhou Games, but is expecting higher results by sending an 'elite' team.