(LEAD) N. Korean athletes welcomed at Asian Winter Games

(ATTN: ADDS photo)

SAPPORO, Japan, Feb. 18 (Yonhap) -- North Korean athletes competing at the Asian Winter Games here in Japan received a welcome ceremony on Saturday.

A day after landing in Sapporo for the continental competition, the delegation got a formal welcome at Minami Ward Gymnasium in the southern part of the host city.

North Korea has sent five short trackers and two figure skaters to Sapporo.

Japan has a travel ban on North Korean nationals following Pyongyang's nuclear and missile tests, but has made a special exception for the athletes at the weeklong competition kicking off Sunday.

The Sapporo Games won't operate a separate athletes' village -- they've been put up at local hotels -- but they still have named former figure skater Emi Watanabe as athletes' mayor.

Athletes from Thailand and Malaysia were also welcomed to Sapporo in the 15-minute ceremony.

North Korean athletes are here with their country in the international spotlight over the recent murder of Kim Jong-nam, estranged half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

Kim Jong-nam was killed in Malaysia Monday in an apparent assassination. In a touch of irony, the North Korean athletes stood next to participants from Malaysia during the welcome ceremony here.

Shin Yong-guk, chef de mission for North Korea, said the objective was "just to do the best we can."
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