In particular, the DPRK proved remarkably successful in the weightlifting event.

It topped the country standings of the 2014 World Weightlifting Championship and won more than 20 gold medals for the year.

Its weightlifters renewed world records one after another and one of them set three new records at the 17th Asian Games, while some emerged world and Asian junior and juvenile weightlifting champions. Om Yun Chol and Kim Un Guk were recognized as world strongmen in 56kg and 62kg weightlifting categories.

The DPRK also showed good results in the football event.

The women team defeated its Japanese rival, world cup holder, in the finals at the 17th Asian Games, emerging the three-time winner in the wake of the 14th and 15th Asiads. The DPRK came first at the AFC U-16 Championship and the U-14 Girls Football Regional Championship.

Besides, the country obtained a lot of gold medals in other international games.

Yang Kyong Il, Ri Se Gwang and Hong Un Jong took the titles at the 2014 World Wrestling Championships and the 45th Artistic Gymnastics World Championships and Pak Jong Ju, Ri Se Ung and Kim Son Hyang snatched gold medals at the 2nd Youth Olympic Games.

The DPRK athletes bagged gold medals in table-tennis, marathon, shooting, aero model, parachute, boxing, judo and other events, too.

Its Taekwon-Do players won gold medals twice those of last year.