North Korea has competed in nine summer Olympics since Munich in 1972, but taken home only 14 gold medals. SEOUL - North Korea on Saturday sent a high-level delegation to attend the Rio Olympics, Pyongyang's state media said, even as the country faces tough UN sanctions over its nuclear and missile development. Lamenting the fact that North Korea was "trailing behind the world", he promised to turn it into a sports powerhouse "within a few years." South Korea's Yonhap news agency said Choe, vice chairman of the North's top state body -- State Affairs Commission -- was seen entering the North Korean Embassy in Beijing after he arrived at Beijing Capital International Airport on Saturday morning. For the isolated state, the Olympic Games offer a rare opportunity to take to the global stage and compete for applause rather than condemnation.

Source: Bangkok Post July 30, 2016 14:48 UTC