Entry permitted as an exception to sanctions against North Korea. First visit to Japan since December 2017
NHK reported on the 26th that the North Korean women's soccer team arrived at Haneda Airport the night before to play the second round of the Asian final qualifying round for the 2024 Paris Olympics. The North Korean national team's entry into Japan was permitted as an exception to sanctions against North Korea, considering that they were participating in an Olympic qualifying game.
According to reports, the North Korean team arrived at Haneda Airport after 10 p.m. on the 25th via Qatar to participate in the second game to be held at the Tokyo National Stadium on the 28th.
After arriving at the airport wearing red coats and holding the North Korean flag, the players appeared in the lobby and were welcomed by officials of the General Association of Koreans in Japan (Chongryon).
Shin Young-cheol, secretary of the Joseon Football Association, who received the bouquet of flowers, said, “I am really happy to arrive in Japan and meet my compatriots. “I will work hard to live up to your expectations and make you happy,” he said.
The Japanese government, in principle, prohibits the entry of North Korean nationals as an independent sanction against North Korea for its nuclear and missile development, but allows athletes to enter the country as an exception to the sanctions for international sports competitions.
This is the North Korean soccer team's first visit to Japan since the East Asian Championships in December 2017.
In the second round of the final qualifying round between Japan and North Korea, if the score is tied after the two halves, overtime and penalty shoot-out will be entered, and the winner will receive the right to participate in the Paris Olympics.
Previously, the first match of the women's soccer Paris Olympics Asian final qualifying match between the Japanese national team and the North Korean national team was held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on the 24th and ended in a 0-0 draw.
Since the Olympic final qualifiers are home and away, the first round of the Asian final qualifiers between Japan and North Korea was originally scheduled to be held at Kim Il-sung Stadium in Pyongyang, North Korea, on the 24th of this month.
However, earlier this month, the Asian Football Confederation proposed to North Korea that the game be held at a neutral site due to difficulties in preparing for the game. It is said that the Japan Football Association's concerns about the lack of flights to Pyongyang and the uncertainty surrounding the game operation also influenced the change of venue. 섯다