With North Korea already out of the ongoing Summer Games, it’s increasingly unlikely that they will participate in next month’s Tokyo Paralympics due to COVID-19 concerns.

The Paralympics would be the latest in a growing list of international sporting events that the DPRK has refused to send athletes to due to the pandemic. Most recently, it announced on Thursday that it would not participate in next year’s U23 Asian Cup or Women’s Asian Cup.

Experts told NK Newsthat, while North Korea has not yet made an official announcement, it’s unlikely that Pyongyang prioritizes creating opportunities for athletes with physical