North Korea pulls out of Tokyo Olympics over COVID-19 fears

North Korea has withdrawn from the postponed Tokyo Olympics due to concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a statement on Monday, the sports ministry said the country’s Olympic committee decided not to participate in this year’s games “in order to protect players from the world public health crisis caused by COVID-19”.

The decision largely reflects North Korea’s stringent measures against the coronavirus since it became a pandemic last year. The country has also imposed severe border restrictions and officially claims to be virus-free.

North Korea is the first country to pull out of the delayed event, which is now scheduled to open on July 23.

It is also the first time North Korea will be missing a summer Olympics since it boycotted Seoul in 1988 amid the Cold War.

The Asian country won two gold, three silver, and two bronze medals at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.