Seoul, February 6th – A delegation from North Korea has departed for Harbin, China, to participate in the 2025 Asian Winter Games, according to a report by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on February 6th. The delegation left Pyongyang by plane the previous day.
The delegation is led by Kim Il-guk, the Minister of Sports and Chairman of the North Korean Olympic Committee. According to the official website of the Asian Winter Games, the North Korean team includes three athletes, all figure skaters. The team consists of pairs skaters Ryom Tae-ok and Han Kum-chol, as well as men’s singles skater Ro Yong-myong.
This marks North Korea’s return to the Asian Winter Games since the 2017 Sapporo Games, where they fielded athletes in both figure skating and short track speed skating. The decision to focus solely on figure skating this year may reflect a strategic assessment of medal-winning potential.
Ryom Tae-ok is a prominent figure in North Korean figure skating. She and her partner, Kim Ju-sik, won a bronze medal in pairs skating at the 2017 Sapporo Asian Winter Games. They also achieved a 13th-place finish in pairs skating at the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics.
The participation of North Korean athletes in the Harbin Asian Winter Games could be seen as a positive sign of engagement and cooperation in the region. While the delegation is small, the focus on figure skating suggests a targeted approach to competition. It remains to be seen how the North Korean athletes will perform, but their presence at the Games is sure to attract attention.
References:
- Yonhap News Agency. (2024, February 6). 朝鲜亚冬会代表团启程赴哈 [North Korean Delegation Departs for Harbin Asian Winter Games]. Retrieved from [Insert URL if available, otherwise omit]
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