Athletes from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea will not start at the Winter Olympics in Beijing in February. North Korea had notified Chinese authorities in a letter of his absence, citing “the work of hostile forces and the epidemic.”
According to Pyongyang’s explanation, “the United States and the powers under its control are increasingly open to China to prevent the successful opening of the Olympics, which is why we cannot participate in the Games,” said the DPRK’s decision sent to Beijing organizers. I fully support our Chinese comrades in the ongoing work of organizing a wonderful Olympic festival.”
The German Democratic Republic of Korea did not participate in the Tokyo 2021 Summer Olympics either.
This year’s Five-Year Winter Games will be held from February 4-20 in the Chinese capital. On December 6, the United States announced its diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Olympics, which means that government officials will not travel to China, while American athletes will participate in Chinese ice and snow competitions. Australia, Britain and Canada, among other countries, have joined the boycott initiative, which Washington has pointed out, citing serious human rights abuses in China.
Opening photo: MTI / EPA / Vu Hong
