Athletes from around the world are currently competing for medals at the 2022 Winter Olympics in China, just six months after the conclusion of the pandemic-delayed Summer Olympics in Tokyo, and North Korea is once again a no-show after choosing to skip the Games due to COVID-19 concerns.

Despite the DPRK’s consecutive absences, the country has long recognized the publicity value of participating in the premier international sporting event, sending athletes to the Games for more than 50 years. What’s more, the country has even hosted its own version of the Olympics — though this was a far cry from the quadrennial competition now underway in Beijing.