North Korea is opening a door that has been firmly closed. After returning to the international sports arena last year, the North has decided to hold an international competition at its home turf from 2026, which is drawing attention. Table tennis has become a bridge of thumb.
According to the Korea Table Tennis Association (ATTU) on the 14th, North Korea decided to host the 2026 Asian Junior Table Tennis Championships and the 2028 Asian Table Tennis Championships at the ATTU General Assembly held in Astana, Kazakhstan.
It is second only to the Olympics, the World Table Tennis Championships, and the Asian Games in that it determines the top of Asian table tennis.
The North once hosted the Asian Championship in Pyongyang in 1976, and even held the World Championship three years later. This is why the term “a competition that North Korea has already hosted” came out in the process of hosting the Busan World Table Tennis Championships this year.
Kim Taek-soo, vice chairman of the Korea Table Tennis Association, who was reappointed as the senior vice chairman at the ATTU General Assembly, explained that the competition was held because North Korea was active.
“I understand that North Korea first asked ATTU to hold a meeting and conveyed its intention to hold it,” Vice Chairman Kim said in a phone call with a reporter. “We have unanimously confirmed that everyone is applauding because there is no rival to host it at the time when North Korea wants to host it.”
It is unusual for North Korea, which has locked down its border due to the spread of COVID-19, to hold an international competition on its home turf. 메이저놀이터
North Korea gave up its fourth home game against Japan in the second Asian regional qualifying round for the 2026 World Cup in North Korea and the U.S. in March. North Korea, which had been forfeited due to the incident, is still holding home games in neutral. The Pyongyang International Marathon, which was held for amateur marathoners in Pyongyang in April every year, was also suspended for the last time in 2019.
North Korea’s unique approach in table tennis is also attributed to its recent upturn. North Korea won a silver medal at this year’s Paris Olympics. Ri and Kim Geum-young won second place in the mixed doubles, amid turmoil that destroyed world powers. Since then, the North has been performing well in several competitions, giving it confidence to host the event in its own country. It is well known that the North uses sports as a propaganda tool for the regime.
The fact that North Korea, which has lost credibility in the international arena, was able to host the event was also a big help to the active support of South Korean table tennis. It is noteworthy that the two Koreas are making a decision whether to infiltrate UAVs or not.
“Chairman Karyl al-Mohannadi called for ‘shocking news’ ahead of the general meeting. North Korea is planning to hold the 2026 Junior Championship and the 2028 Senior Championship. Do you have any intention of opposing it?” Vice Chairman Kim said with a smile. “We had no reason to oppose it, so we answered, ‘Sports is sports, politics is politics. There is no reason to oppose it,’ and this is how the competition was held.”
The table tennis community seems to welcome the North’s reopening of the table tennis scene. During his visit to the General Assembly as an observer, Petra Søring, chairman of the International Table Tennis Federation, also reportedly met with Joo Jeong-cheol, secretary-general of the North Korean Table Tennis Association, and said, “I will help you with everything you need.”
