North Korea captured its first three gold medals of the Asian Games in China's Hangzhou on Thursday, with gymnast An Chang Ok taking two and the other clinched in the women's team 10-meter running target range shooting.

An led a 1-2 North Korean finish in the women's vault with Kim Son Hyang and doubled her gold medal total in the uneven bars.

An Chang Ok of North Korea performs on the vault in the women's artistic gymnastics competition at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, on Sept. 28, 2023. (Kyodo)

North Korea is making its first international multi-sport event appearance since the 2018 Asian Games, also known as Asiad, in Jakarta and Palembang, Indonesia. North Korea had not been participating in competitions due to its COVID-19 border controls.

China's Yu Linmin finished third in the vault at Huanglong Sports Centre Gymnasium. Japan's Mikako Serita captured the silver in the uneven bars, with China's Zuo Tong third.

An Chang Ok of North Korea performs in the final of the women's artistic gymnastics uneven bars at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, on Sept. 28, 2023. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

(From L) Mikako Serita of Japan, An Chang Ok of North Korea and Zuo Tong of China pose for a photo after winning silver, gold and bronze, respectively, in the women's artistic gymnastics uneven bars at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, on Sept. 28, 2023. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

In shooting, Paek Ok Sim, Pang Myong Hyang and Ri Ji Ye gave a military-style salute on the podium, shedding tears as their nation's flag flew high overhead.

Kazakhstan earned silver and Indonesia bronze.

Related coverage:

Asian Games: Face of Philippine skateboarding fights pain with pride

Asian Games: Matsumoto, Aoki win as Japan earns 2 more swim golds

Asian Games: 13-yr-old skateboarding phenom Ginwoo Onodera misses medal