Story perspectives

North Korea routs Bangladesh 10–0 in Asian Games opener

By Drooid · Sep 14, 2026, 11:33 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

North Korea Thrash Bangladesh

North Korea women's football team defeated Bangladesh 10-0 in Osaka, opening the Asian Games group stage.
North Korea scored seven goals in the first half, leading 7-0 at halftime.
Kim Kyong-yong netted two first-half goals for North Korea.
Bangladesh, ranked 107th, recorded its heaviest defeat in women’s international football.
Bangladesh will seek recovery against South Korea in its next group match.

Summary

Japan Grants Exemption

Over 100 North Korea athletes compete in 14 sports at the Asian Games.
Japanese authorities granted a special exemption for the athletes despite normally barring North Korea.
Hundreds of pro-Pyongyang supporters gathered in Osaka, singing and waving flags.
A pro-North Korea group in Tokyo urged locals to wear red at events.
North Korea resumed competition after a pandemic pause, returning at the 2023 Asian Games and Paris Olympics.

History

Historical Context

The 1988 Seoul Olympics saw North Korea and six allies boycott, costing Japan about $2 billion in tourism, illustrating how Cold-War politics turned sport into a diplomatic battleground. Decades later, North Korean athletes returned to the 2023 Asian Games in Osaka after Japan granted a rare exemption, showing sport’s continued role in easing regional tensions.

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North Korea Thrash Bangladesh

North Korea women's football team defeated Bangladesh 10-0 in Osaka, opening the Asian Games group stage.
North Korea scored seven goals in the first half, leading 7-0 at halftime.
Kim Kyong-yong netted two first-half goals for North Korea.
Bangladesh, ranked 107th, recorded its heaviest defeat in women’s international football.
Bangladesh will seek recovery against South Korea in its next group match.

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