Two North Korea members of Asian Games seek asylum in Japan, report says
Two members of the North Korean delegation at the Asian Games in Japan are reportedly seeking asylum. The report, citing intelligence sources, notes that the individuals prefer Japan over South Korea, though their identities remain undisclosed.
Why it matters
Defections from North Korean delegations are rare and carry significant geopolitical implications for relations between North Korea, Japan, and South Korea.
Two members of North Korea's delegation to the Asian Games in Japan are looking to seek asylum, South Korea's Monthly Chosun magazine reported on Tuesday (September 22, 2026).
Citing a source it identified as an official from Japan's Cabinet Intelligence and Research Office, the magazine said the two were among a 180-member North Korean delegation attending the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, which opened on Saturday (September 19).
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The two North Koreans expressed a preference to seek asylum in Japan rather than South Korea and have communicated their intention not to return home, the report said.
Their identities and positions within the delegation were not disclosed, and it remained unclear whether their reported outreach would ultimately lead to a defection, according to Monthly Chosun.
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