Upon arrival at the Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, about two dozen North Koreans, including sports officials, avoided media encounters by using separate gates while the French police kept onlookers from approaching them.
The isolated country's Olympic participation marks its return after eight years, following its absence from the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic. About a dozen North Korean athletes are expected to compete in disciplines like boxing, gymnastics, judo, table tennis and wrestling.
"Being in Paris gives me an excitement but also pressure," said Lee Ki-heung the chairman of the Korean Sports & Olympic Committee said. "We will do our best to achieve more than we aimed for," he added.
South Korea, fielding its smallest squad since the 1976 Montreal Olympics in Canada, aims to win at least five gold medals in archery, fencing, judo and swimming and finish in the top 15. This year's Olympics, running for 16 days starting Friday, will bring together some 10,500 athletes from over 200 countries.
