North Korean athletes, distinguished by white blazers and pink ties, arrived in Japan to participate in the Asian Games, commencing September 19 in Nagoya-Aichi. Over 100 North Korean competitors will participate in 14 sports, marking their return to international competition after a pandemic-induced hiatus, following previous appearances in China and the Paris Olympics. The men’s football team landed in Osaka via Beijing, greeted by enthusiastic pro-Pyongyang supporters waving North Korean flags. Despite Japan's general prohibition on North Korean nationals entering the country due to the nation’s nuclear program, exceptions were granted for the Games to promote international exchange. The North Korean men’s football team will begin their campaign against China on September 16, while the women’s team faces Bangladesh on Monday. Japan’s chief cabinet secretary Minoru Kihara affirmed that this entry is an exceptional circumstance and does not alter the country’s broader policy.