Two members of North Korea's 180-person delegation to the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in Japan sought asylum on September 22, 2026, according to South Korean reports. The games opened Saturday and the defections mark a rare departure from the North Korean delegation.
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Two North Korea members of Asian Games seek asylum in Japan, report says Reuters
Two North Korean members of the Asian Games delegation in Japan are seeking asylum, according to South Korea’s Monthly Chosun magazine. The two were part of a 180-member North Korean delegation at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games and reportedly want asylum in Japan rather than South Korea. Their identities and roles have not been disclosed, and it remains unclear whether they will ultimately defect.
Citing a Japanese official, the report said the two were among a 180-member delegation attending the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games that opened Saturday.