North Korea's Asian Games run overshadowed by poor sportsmanship - The Korea Times

North Korea’s run at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games produced medal results but also repeated criticism for poor sportsmanship, according to coverage cited from The Korea Times. The men’s soccer quarterfinal against Japan on Sept. 26 became a flashpoint: the team left the field protesting a refereeing decision and then walked off without shaking hands. The delegation finished 12th overall with seven gold medals, 13 silver and nine bronze. All seven golds came in weightlifting, reinforcing its strength there, while the women’s soccer team took silver. Beyond results, observers noted athletes kept distance from competitors and reporters, including public self-criticism sessions and refusal to accept officiating. Bang Chol-mi delayed the start of the next boxing bout after refusing the judges’ decision, and weightlifting medalists were shown in tears during self-criticism. The reporting also links the stricter behavior to changes after Kim Jong-un’s “two hostile states” doctrine.