Josh Smith

SEOUL (Reuters). — North Korea has accused “hostile forces” in the global pandemic and other factors for being unable to participate at the upcoming Winter Olympics. State media reported that the United States was also accusing them of trying to stop the Games from succeeding.

According to KCNA, the North Korean Olympic Committee and Ministry of Physical Culture and Sports wrote a letter to their counterparts in China, including their Beijing Olympics organising committee.

North Korea has been suspended from the International Olympic Committee until 2022. This means it won’t be able to participate in the Beijing Winter Games. It was unable to send any team to Tokyo Olympics this year due to COVID-19 concerns.

According to KCNA, the letter stated that “We couldn’t take part in Olympics because of the hostile forces’ moves and the global pandemic”, but would support our Chinese comrades and all they do to organize splendid and amazing Olympic festivals.”

It criticised the United States’ and allies’ moves as an “insult to the spirit and international Olympic Charter”, and as a base attempt to discredit the image of China internationally.

The White House said in December that U.S. government officials would not attend the 2022 Winter Olympics, citing China’s human rights violations. U.S. Olympic athletes were free to travel to Beijing and compete.

Many other countries including Canada, Australia and Britain have since declared diplomatic boycotts.

The North Korean letter stated that the U.S. and its vassal troops are becoming more undisguised in the moves they make against China to prevent the opening of the Olympics.

North Korea claimed that preparations for the Games are being made under the leadership of General Secretary Xi Jinping, despite the global health crisis.