North Korea has registered to compete in the Asian Games scheduled for this fall in China, the organizers have confirmed, raising hopes that the country could finally end its pandemic hiatus from international sports.

Zhou Jinqiang, vice chairman of the Hangzhou Asian Games organizing committee, said at a press conference on Wednesday that all 45 national Olympic committees in Asia have registered for the event, meaning that the DPRK has also indicated its desire to participate.

Zhou did not specifically name North Korea, but Japanese media reportedlast month that the country registered a 200-member delegation for the Asian Games