North Korea marked its return to top-level international sports with an eventful campaign at the Asian Games in neighboring China, with DPRK athletes often in the spotlight for their successes as well as controversies.

The Hangzhou games, held between Sept. 23 and Oct. 8, represented the DPRK’s first participation in a a major international multi-sport event since it sealed its borders in Jan. 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.