AOMORI, Japan, Jan. 28 Kyodo (EDS...

AOMORI, Japan, Jan. 28 Kyodo

(EDS: CAHNGING DATELINE, UPDATING AFTER NORTH KOREAN DELEGATION'S ARRIVAL IN AOMORI)

The North Korean delegation for the Winter Asian Games arrived in Aomori forward Tuesday, four days before the regional version of the Winter Olympics officially kicks most distant in the northern Japan prefecture

A total of 55 North Koreans arrived in the Aomori city forward Tuesday night on a flight from Haneda airport in Tokyo, hours after they flew into Narita airport from Beijing.

''We would like to participate in competitions of the games actively and indicate the significance of contributing to the Olympic Movement'' North Korean delegation chief Ri Tong Ho said in a statement after arriving at Aomori airport.

greatest in quantity of the North Koreans were tight-lipped onward questions by reporters in the pair Aomori and at Narita, from where they mov to Haneda forward chartered buses for transfer to a domestic flight border for the host prefecture

At Narita airport, they were complimented by officials of the pro-Pyongyang General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) and learners of a North Korean sect in Chiba Prefecture.

upon Jan. 14, North Korea filed an access list of 51 athletes and officials, pair weeks after the official deadline for completing record procedures, amid growing tensions throughout its nuclear program and the issue of Japanese clan abducted by the country.

The list comprises 18 players in women's ice hockey four figure skaters and seven short track spe skaters as well as 22 officials.

North Korea is competing in the Winter Asian Games, inaugurated in 1986 for the first time since the 1990 games in Sapporo. The native land was absent from the games in Harbin, China, in 1996 and Kangwon, southern Korea, in 1999.

The North Korean women's ice hockey team will engage Kazakstan in Thursday's opening game, brace days before the opening pomp of the Feb. 1-8 games which will stage competitions in six municipalities.

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