North Korea's Declaration to Skip Tokyo Olympics Raises Concerns... Japan Watches Closely

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] As North Korea declared it will not participate in the Tokyo Olympics opening this July, the Japanese government is closely monitoring the situation to prevent the fallout from escalating.

According to Japan's Kyodo News on the 6th, Tamayo Marukawa, Japan's Minister in charge of the Olympics, stated at a press conference that "the detailed information is being confirmed" regarding North Korea's decision to withdraw from the Tokyo Olympics. Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato also responded to related questions by saying, "First, we will coordinate with the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the organizing committee, and North Korea," adding, "We will continue to monitor the situation." When asked about the impact of North Korea's withdrawal on the abduction issue, Minister Kato said, "That is a separate matter," and reiterated that the Japanese government remains willing to handle the abduction issue independently and engage in direct dialogue with North Korea.

An official from the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Organizing Committee, responsible for coordinating with National Olympic Committees (NOCs) of various countries and regions, expressed surprise at North Korea's withdrawal announcement, saying, "We have heard nothing. It came out of the blue," unable to hide their astonishment.

North Korea announced on the same day that it will not participate in the Tokyo Olympics due to the COVID-19 situation. On the 'Choson Sports' website operated by North Korea's Ministry of Sports, a statement was posted saying, "(The North Korean) Olympic Committee, at its general meeting, discussed and decided not to participate in the 32nd Olympic Games to protect athletes from the global health crisis caused by the malignant virus infection, based on the proposal of committee members."

Kyodo News reported that North Korea cited protecting athletes from COVID-19 as the reason for its withdrawal, raising concerns about potential ripple effects on other countries. A Japanese government official mentioned to Kyodo News that Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga will discuss the North Korean situation during a summit with U.S. President Joe Biden on the 16th (local time), adding, "It is necessary to analyze the intention behind the withdrawal announcement at this point."

However, within the Japanese government, there were also reactions indicating that North Korea's withdrawal from the Tokyo Olympics was not surprising. Another Japanese government official referred to North Korea's border closures and restrictions on human movement as COVID-19 measures, stating, "If they do not participate in regional qualifiers, they cannot compete in the Olympics. There is no surprise regarding North Korea's decision to withdraw."