North Korean athletes and officials taking part in the upcoming Asian Winter Games arrived in the Japanese host city of Sapporo on Friday, with the country in the international spotlight over the murder of its leader's half-brother.
The delegation was led by Chang Ung, the lone North Korean member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), as they landed at New Chitose Airport.
They were greeted by some 80 members of Chongryon, a Tokyo-based organization of pro-Pyongyang Korean residents in Japan.
"I've done this all my life, and so I don't really have special feelings," Chang told Yonhap News Agency. "There's quite a bit of snow here."
When a question about the killing of Kim Jong-nam, estranged half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, a member of Chongryon stepped in to end the interview.
Chang later said, "I am here as an IOC member. I can talk about sports all day, but I am not in a position to discuss other matters."
Kim Jong-nam -- the eldest son of late former leader Kim Jong-il -- was killed in Malaysia on Monday after allegedly being attacked with poison by two women.
North Korean athletes didn't speak to the media as they passed through the airport. The country sent five short track speed skaters and two figure skaters.
Japan has imposed a travel ban on North Korean nationals in light of Pyongyang's nuclear and missile tests, but has made a special exception for the athletes to compete at the Feb. 19-26 Winter Asiad.
It is the first visit to Japan by North Korean athletes since its women's football team traveled to Osaka last year for an Olympic qualifying round.
The two countries do not have diplomatic relations. (Yonhap)