December 07, 2023
News

Olympic feat? North Korea hints athletes may return to international competition

Officials meet to talk boosting performance in what expert calls sign of ‘reorienting’ society for post-COVID reopening

North Korea’s Olympic committee met last week and announced new performance and compliance standards last Friday, a sign that the country’s athletes may be preparing to return to international competition after years of pandemic isolation.

The DPRK was barred from Olympic competition last year after it was a no-show at the Summer Games in Tokyo in 2021. Pyongyang has disallowed its athletes from competing abroad since the outbreak of COVID-19.