Seoul: National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac said Friday: he has been paying attention to the possibility of North Korea taking part in this year's Asian Games in Japan. Wi made the remarks during a press conference amid reports North Korea could send athletes to the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, set to run from Sept. 19 to Oct. 4 across the Japanese prefecture of Aichi.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Wi stated, "We are monitoring the situation," highlighting that sports exchanges are among the less difficult forms of inter-Korean engagement. He further expressed that it is desirable for North Korea to come forward on the international stage and participate, and he believes Japan shares the same view as a host country.
When asked whether the issue could be discussed at next week's summit talks between President Lee Jae Myung and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, Wi replied, "Nothing has been decided." In November last year, Choson Sinbo, a pro-North Korea newspaper based in Japan, reported that the North is expected to send a large-scale team to compete in the Asian Games.