Around 16 North Korean athletes are expected to compete in around seven Olympic events in Paris, including athletics, boxing, diving, gymnastics, table tennis and wrestling according to the South Korean news agency Yonhap. Han Il-ryong will reportedly run in the men's marathon and two boxers, Pang Chol-mi (women's bantamweight) and Won Ung-yong (women's lightweight) have also qualified. 

In judo, Mun Song-hui (women's middleweight) is the sole North Korean to qualify for the Games while in table tennis Pyon Song-gyong, Ri Jong-sik and Kim Kum-yong have all punched their tickets to Paris in the 2024 ITTF World Mixed Doubles.

North Korea's culture and sports minister Kim Il Guk was part of the delegation heading to Paris on Saturday. The nuclear-armed North did not send a delegation to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, which were delayed to 2021 because of the coronavirus, due to concerns over the pandemic.

The country was banned from the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, a penalty imposed by the International Olympic Committee after it failed to take part in Tokyo, which the organisation lifted on 31 December 2022.

The last time North Korea competed at the Olympics was in 2016, when the country won seven medals: Two gold, three silver and two bronze. Rim Jong Sim won in women's weightlifting and Ri Se Gwang scored gold in men's vault.

Thousands of athletes have begun flying into the French capital ahead of the Games which get underway from 26 July until 11 August, and the first athletes have already arrived at the Olympic Village north of Paris.