North Korea & the 2022 Beijing Winter Games
North Korea announced earlier this year that they would not be partaking in the February Beijing Olympics due to COVID-19 pandemic. This announcement was made in response to the International Olympics Committee’s declaration that North Korea would be banned from participating in the 2022 Olympics for refusing to send a team to the 2021 Tokyo Summer Olympics.
“We could not take part in the Olympics due to the hostile forces' moves and the worldwide pandemic,” North Korean delegates wrote in a recent letter addressed to their Chinese allies. The hostile forces noted in their letter are believed to be in reference to the International Olympics Committee, and possible countries who may have played a part in North Korea’s ban, such as America and Britain.
Picture of North Korean Atheletes from the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics
Although North Korea will not be able to participate in this year’s game, they wish their Chinese allies, “a splendid and wonderful Olympic festival." A spokesperson from the Chinese Foreign Ministry replied to this statement, "The DPRK reaffirmed its support and solidarity with China in hosting a grand Olympic Games on January 5, and we appreciate that," Wang said.
While Seoul holds onto the hope that the Olympics would serve to prompt reconciliation between the two Koreas, the IOC's decision has made this goal much more difficult. Despite the two countries having marched together in the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Games, it seems that this picture will become even harder to recreate for the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing and in the future. The challenges surrounding reconciliation also involve the fact that North Korea conducted a hypersonic missile test this past January.
North Korea’s commitment to guard the country against COVID-19 has been recognized as the country has also skipped major international sports events. As such, the country’s athletes have been skipping Olympic preliminary events and it comes as no surprise that the audience does not see North Korea’s presence at the Beijing Winter Games, even if the country had not been banned.
North Korea has also issued a letter, with its content pertaining to accusing the United States and its allies. The letter accuses the United States of attempting to impede on China’s successful hosting of the Games. The letter says:
"The U.S. and its vassal forces are getting more undisguised in their moves against China aimed at preventing the successful opening of the Olympics," the letter said. "(North Korea) resolutely rejects those moves, branding them as an insult to the spirit of the international Olympic Charter and as a base act of attempting to disgrace the international image of China."
The letter highlights the United State’s leadership in a diplomatic boycott of the games in efforts to protest China’s human rights records. While athletes will still be sent to compete in the Games, this boycott will involve countries not sending official delegations to Beijing.
Source:
Comments