PARIS—North Korea is set to participate in the Summer Olympics for the first time in eight years, fielding a team of 16 athletes across seven sports in the upcoming Paris 2024 Games.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the North Korean delegation includes 12 female and four male athletes competing in artistic gymnastics, athletics, boxing, swimming, diving, judo, table tennis, and wrestling. The country's largest contingent is in wrestling, with five athletes participating, followed by three athletes each in table tennis and diving. This marks a significant return to the global sports stage for North Korea, which did not participate in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics due to concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic. Following a suspension and the cessation of financial aid by the International Olympic Committee, which lasted until the end of 2022, North Korea made a competitive return at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, last fall. The nation is aiming to build on its performance from the 2016 Olympics, where it won a total of seven medals, including two golds.
Among the athletes, artistic gymnast An Chang-ok, the reigning Asian Games gold medalist in the women's vault and uneven bars, is expected to be a standout performer.