One third of the Beijing Olympic delegation from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) checked in the Athletes' Village on Saturday.

Cha Kum-chol, world weightlifting champion in the men's 56kg class, and Hong Un-jong, women's vault winner at the Asian gymnastics championships in 2006, were seen settling in the village with about 20 delegation members.

DPRK is sending 60 athletes to compete in 11 sports in the August 8-24 Games, including women's football, judo, weightlifting, wrestling, archery, shooting, boxing and table tennis.

The size of the DPRK team is the second largest since it sent 75 athletes to the 1992 Games in Barcelona.

The country sent 36 athletes to the 2004 Athens Olympics and finished 57th with no gold medals.

There is no official word on whether the DPRK and South Korea will have a joint march at the opening and closing ceremonies.

(Xinhua News Agency August 2, 2008)