North Korea at the 2017 Asian Winter Games

The People's Democratic Republic of Korea (North Korea) competed in the 2017 Asian Winter Games in Sapporo and Obihiro, Japan from February 19 to 26.[1][2] The country is competed in one sport (skating) and two disciplines: figure skating and short track speed skating.[3][4][5] The North Korean team will consist of seven athletes.[6][7][8]

North Korea at the 2017 Asian Winter Games
IOC code	PRK
NOC	Olympic Committee of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea
in Sapporo and Obihiro February 19–26
Competitors	7 in 2 sports
Flag bearer	Kim Pyol-song (opening) Kim Ju-sik (closing)
Medals Ranked 5th	Gold 0 Silver 0 Bronze 1 Total 1
Asian Winter Games appearances
1986 1990 1996–1999 2003 2007 2011 2017

North Korea finished the games with one medal, a bronze in the pairs figure skating competition. This was exactly the same result the country achieved at the last games in 2011.[9][10]

Background

North Korea is scheduled to return to competition after missing the last edition of the games in 2011. The country had to request special permission from Japanese authorities so its athletes and officials could enter the country. Current Japanese law bans citizens of the country from entering Japan.[4] On February 6, 2017, the Japanese government announced its decision to allow the North Korean delegation of 20 people to enter the country.[6][11][12]

Medal summary

Medal table

Sport	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
Figure skating	0	0	1	1
Totals (1 sports)	0	0	1	1

Medalists

Medal	Name	Sport	Event	Date
Bronze	Ryom Tae-ok Kim Ju-sik	Figure skating	Pairs	25 February

Competitors

The following table lists the North Korean delegation per sport and gender.

Sport	Men	Women	Total
Figure skating	1	1	2
Short track speed skating	5	0	5
Total	6	1	7

Figure skating

North Korea has entered a two athletes into the pairs competition.

Athlete	Event	SP		FS		Total
		Points	Rank	Points	Rank	Points	Rank
Ryom Tae-ok / Kim Ju-sik	Pairs	65.22	3	112.18	3	177.40

Short track speed skating

North Korea has entered a full men's team of five athletes.

Men

• Kim Chol-gwang
• Kim Pyol-song
• Kim Tae-song
• Choe Un-song
• Pak Gwang-myong

References

1. "Sapporo 2017". www.ocasia.org/. Olympic Council of Asia. Archived from the original on 11 November 2016. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
2. "OCA welcomes record number of teams, athletes to Sapporo 2017". www.ocasia.org/. Olympic Council of Asia. 17 February 2017. Archived from the original on 19 August 2017. Retrieved 17 February 2017.
3. "Japan weighs up North Korean Winter Games request". www.ca.sports.yahoo.com/. Yahoo Sports. 1 December 2016. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
4. Butler, Nick (2 December 2016). "North Korea reportedly request special permission to compete at Sapporo 2017 Asian Winter Games". Insidethegames.biz. Dunsar Media. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
5. "2017 Sapporo AWG sport entries by NOC". www.sapporo2017.org. 8th Sapporo Asian Winter Games Organizing Committee. 16 December 2016. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
6. "North Korean athletes' delegation given OK to enter Japan to attend Sapporo Asian Winter Games". The Japan Times. Tokyo, Japan. 6 February 2017. Retrieved 6 February 2017.
7. Jee-ho, Yoo (10 February 2017). "N. Korea to send 7 athletes to Asian Winter Games in Japan: report". Yonhap. Seoul, South Korea. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
8. Butler, Nick (12 February 2017). "North Korea cleared to compete at Sapporo 2017 by Japanese Government". Insidethegames.biz. Dunsar Media. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
9. "DPRK takes bronze in pairs figure skating". www.ocasia.org/. Olympic Council of Asia. 25 February 2017. Retrieved 25 February 2017.
10. Armstrong, Jim (25 February 2017). "North Korea wins first medal at Asian Winter Games". Associated Press. New York City, USA. Retrieved 25 February 2017.
11. "Japan to allow entry to N. Korean athletes for Asian Winter Games: report". Yonhap. Seoul, South Korea. 6 February 2017. Retrieved 6 February 2017.
12. Lies, Eliane (5 February 2017). "Japan to let North Korea athletes attend Asian Winter Games". Reuters. London, United Kingdom. Retrieved 5 February 2017.