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North Korea has had an on-and-off relationship with the Olympics.
With the 2026 Winter Olympics getting underway in Italy, the nation's status again gained scrutiny from sports fans.
There was a North Korean delegation at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, but this time around is different.
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Is North Korea in the Olympics?
No, North Korea is not at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
It's not actually because of a ban, though.
The North Koreans simply didn't have anyone qualify for these Games.
North Korea last competed in the Winter Olympics in 2018.
They withdrew from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics due to COVID-19 worries, and the International Olympic Committee suspended their participation until the end of the calendar year 2022.
They had double-digit athletes upon their return in Paris.
They just don't have any qualified winter athletes in 2026.
According to Reuters, North Korea is holding national winter games after not having any of its athletes qualify for the Winter Olympics.
"North Korea failed to secure qualification places in the Winter Olympics in Italy that open on Friday, according to South Korean media and international skating results," writes Reuters.
North Korea sent 22 athletes to the Winter Olympics in PyeongChang in 2018, including a combined women's ice hockey team with South Korea.
There has been no such setup this time around.
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