Seoul /
North Korea will not participate in Tokyo Olympics because of the risks posed by coronavirus, the North Korean sports minister announced on Tuesday.
The North Korean Olympic Committee has decided “not to participate in the 32nd Olympic Games for protect athletes from the global health crisis which generated covid-19 “, provided the information service of the Ministry of Sports.
The latest participation of the isolated and nucleated North Korean state in the Winter Games in Pyeongchang South Korea, contributed to the diplomatic rapprochement in 2018.
The North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un, sent his sister Kim Yo Young these games, which South Korean President Moon Jae-in took advantage of to promote negotiations between Pyongyang and Washington, which resulted in two meetings between Kim and US President Donald Trump at the time.
Pyongyang announcement puts an end to Seoul’s hopes of turning the postponed Tokyo Games into an excuse reactivates the negotiation process which is currently in neutral.
The announcement, which dates from Monday, published on the ministry’s website indicates that it is a decision taken by the National Olympic Committee that took place on March 25.
The state news agency KCNA had previously reported on the meeting, but without mentioning the decision.