North Korea has decided not to send its athletes to the upcoming July 2021 Tokyo Olympics, the country’s state-run website Sports in DPRK said on Monday, quashing South Korean hopes of an Olympic breakthrough in its relations with Pyongyang.

North Korea came to the decision, which follows a quietly reported mystery meeting of the DPRK’s Olympics committee on March 25, after judging that it would be unsafe to send its sportspersons to Japan due to COVID-19.

“In the meeting the DPRK Olympic Committee discussed the suggestions of its members and decided not to participate in the 32nd Olympic Games in