The Tokyo Olympics will likely take place this year, without North Korea as a participant because of Covid-19.
The country specifically announced that it will not take part in because of the plan is to protect its athletes from the deadly coronavirus pandemic.
This development follows the decision puts an end to South Korea’s hopes of using the Games to engage with the North amid stalled cross-border talks.
Going memory lane, in 2018 both sides entered a joint team at the Winter Olympics which led to a series of historic summits.
Meanwhile, Pyongyang says it has no cases of the virus but experts say this is unlikely.
North Korea automatically becomes the first major country to skip the delayed 2020 Games, because of the pandemic, after this announcement.
This will be the first time North Korea misses a Summer Olympics since 1988, when it boycotted the Seoul games during the Cold War.
The event is due to begin on 23 July.
