North Korean sports return internationally after 4 years of closure

The 2020 U23 Asian Finals in Thailand is the latest international tournament North Korea attended. They stopped in the group stage after their last match against Vietnam under coach Park Hang-seo on January 16, 2020.

During the shutdown, North Korea missed many major events such as the 2020 Summer Olympics (Japan), 2022 Winter Olympics (China), 2022 Men's World Cup (Qatar), 2023 Women's World Cup (Australia and New Zealand). ). Because they did not attend the 2020 Olympics, this country's athletes were suspended by the International Olympic Committee IOC until the end of 2022.

North Korea initially registered to participate in the Grand Prix of the IWF International Weightlifting Federation in June 2023, but in the end did not send athletes. North Korea's return in Asiad 19 therefore attracted great international attention. Since 1974, North Korea has participated in every Asian Games except 1986 and 1994.

Coming to China this time, North Korea is expected to have about 80 athletes, participating in football, volleyball, wrestling and judo. In Asiad 18, their judo won one silver medal, one bronze medal, while wrestling had two gold medals, one silver medal, two bronze medals. Meanwhile, soccer is a strong subject when the North Korean men's and women's teams both reached the quarterfinals. At Asiad 2014, North Korea won the gold medal in women's football and the silver medal in men's football.

However, four years of not participating in international tournaments makes the ability of North Korean athletes difficult to determine. The wrestling and judo team are mostly in their 20s, so they have very little experience.

Asiad 19 was held mainly in Hangzhou city, China from September 23 to October 8. The event, postponed for a year due to the epidemic, will attract about 12,500 athletes from 45 Asian countries, competing in 40 disciplines.