Even in absence, North Korea's presence felt at Tokyo Games
FILE - In this Feb. 22, 2018, file photo, North Korean cheerleaders sing during the men's 500 meters short track speedskating semifinal in the Gangneung Ice Arena at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea. At the Winter Games in Pyeongchang, North Korea had no real medal contenders, but it was among the most watched nations at the Games, with a huge delegation highlighted by a 229-member strong, all-female cheering squad. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File)

FILE - In this Feb. 22, 2018, file photo, North Korean cheerleaders sing during the men's 500 meters short track speedskating semifinal in the Gangneung Ice Arena at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea. At the Winter Games in Pyeongchang, North Korea had no real medal contenders, but it was among the most watched nations at the Games, with a huge delegation highlighted by a 229-member strong, all-female cheering squad. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File)

Jul. 28, 2021 02:09 AM EDT
FILE - In this Feb. 10, 2018, file photo, Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, right, and North Korea's nominal head of state Kim Yong Nam, second right, sit next to Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee and South Korean President Moon Jae-in, left, as they arrive to watch the preliminary round of the women's hockey game between Switzerland and the combined Koreas at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea. Kim Yo Jong, the younger sister of Kim Jong Un, made the first-ever visit to the South by a member of the ruling Kim dynasty since the end of the 1950-53 Korean War. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana, File)

FILE - In this Feb. 10, 2018, file photo, Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, right, and North Korea's nominal head of state Kim Yong Nam, second right, sit next to Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee and South Korean President Moon Jae-in, left, as they arrive to watch the preliminary round of the women's hockey game between Switzerland and the combined Koreas at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea. Kim Yo Jong, the younger sister of Kim Jong Un, made the first-ever visit to the South by a member of the ruling Kim dynasty since the end of the 1950-53 Korean War. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana, File)

Jul. 28, 2021 02:09 AM EDT
FILE - In this Feb. 14, 2018, file photo, members of the North Korean delegation wave flags at the women's slalom at Yongpyong alpine center at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. At Pyeongchang, North Korea had no real medal contenders, but it was among the most watched nations at the Games, with a huge delegation highlighted by a 229-member strong, all-female cheering squad. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, File)

FILE - In this Feb. 14, 2018, file photo, members of the North Korean delegation wave flags at the women's slalom at Yongpyong alpine center at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. At Pyeongchang, North Korea had no real medal contenders, but it was among the most watched nations at the Games, with a huge delegation highlighted by a 229-member strong, all-female cheering squad. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, File)

Jul. 28, 2021 02:08 AM EDT
FILE - In this Feb. 3, 2021, file photo, a countdown clock showing one year to go for the 2022 Beijing Olympics stands near the Olympics Tower, rear center, and National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest, which will again be a venue for the Olympics, in Beijing. Some expect North Korea to emerge again from its self-imposed lock-down next year when China, the North’s only major ally and a key political and aid lifeline, hosts the Winter Games. (AP Photo/Andy Wong, File)

FILE - In this Feb. 3, 2021, file photo, a countdown clock showing one year to go for the 2022 Beijing Olympics stands near the Olympics Tower, rear center, and National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest, which will again be a venue for the Olympics, in Beijing. Some expect North Korea to emerge again from its self-imposed lock-down next year when China, the North’s only major ally and a key political and aid lifeline, hosts the Winter Games. (AP Photo/Andy Wong, File)

Jul. 28, 2021 02:10 AM EDT
FILE - In this July 12, 2021, file photo, commuters wearing face masks walk in a passageway during a rush hour at Shinagawa Station in Tokyo. The coronavirus is the biggest reason for North Korea’s absence from the Tokyo Games. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, File)

FILE - In this July 12, 2021, file photo, commuters wearing face masks walk in a passageway during a rush hour at Shinagawa Station in Tokyo. The coronavirus is the biggest reason for North Korea’s absence from the Tokyo Games. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, File)

Jul. 28, 2021 02:09 AM EDT
FILE - In this Feb. 10, 2018, file photo, Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, right, and North Korea's nominal head of state Kim Yong Nam, wait for the start of the preliminary round of the women's hockey game between Switzerland and the combined Koreas at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea. Kim Yo Jong, the younger sister of Kim Jong Un, made the first-ever visit to the South by a member of the ruling Kim dynasty since the end of the 1950-53 Korean War. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana, File)

FILE - In this Feb. 10, 2018, file photo, Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, right, and North Korea's nominal head of state Kim Yong Nam, wait for the start of the preliminary round of the women's hockey game between Switzerland and the combined Koreas at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea. Kim Yo Jong, the younger sister of Kim Jong Un, made the first-ever visit to the South by a member of the ruling Kim dynasty since the end of the 1950-53 Korean War. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana, File)

Jul. 28, 2021 02:09 AM EDT
FILE - In this June 3, 2019, file photo provided by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, second right, waves with his wife Ri Sol Ju, center, during the grand gymnastics and artistic performance at the May Day Stadium in Pyongyang. The woman next to Ri Sol Ju appears to be Kim's sister, Kim Yo Jong, who state media said attended the performance. The coronavirus is the biggest reason for North Korea’s decision not to come to Tokyo. The nation has shut its borders tighter than normal, worried that its fragile health care system and rickety economy could not withstand a major outbreak. That, in turn, could put the ruling Kim family in danger. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP, File)

FILE - In this June 3, 2019, file photo provided by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, second right, waves with his wife Ri Sol Ju, center, during the grand gymnastics and artistic performance at the May Day Stadium in Pyongyang. The woman next to Ri Sol Ju appears to be Kim's sister, Kim Yo Jong, who state media said attended the performance. The coronavirus is the biggest reason for North Korea’s decision not to come to Tokyo. The nation has shut its borders tighter than normal, worried that its fragile health care system and rickety economy could not withstand a major outbreak. That, in turn, could put the ruling Kim family in danger. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP, File)

Jul. 28, 2021 02:09 AM EDT
FILE - In this April 1, 2020, file photo, offices at the Phyongchon District People's Hospital are disinfected in Pyongyang, North Korea. The coronavirus is the biggest reason for North Korea’s absence from the Tokyo Games. (AP Photo/Jon Chol Jin, File)

FILE - In this April 1, 2020, file photo, offices at the Phyongchon District People's Hospital are disinfected in Pyongyang, North Korea. The coronavirus is the biggest reason for North Korea’s absence from the Tokyo Games. (AP Photo/Jon Chol Jin, File)

Jul. 28, 2021 02:10 AM EDT
FILE - In this undated file photo provided on Sept. 10, 2020, by the North Korean government, a health worker checks the temperature of people to protect against the coronavirus in Pyongyang, North Korea. The coronavirus is the biggest reason for North Korea’s absence from the Tokyo Games. Always highly sensitive to communicable disease outbreaks, the nation has shut its borders tighter than normal, worried that its fragile health care system and rickety economy could not withstand a major outbreak. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP, File)

FILE - In this undated file photo provided on Sept. 10, 2020, by the North Korean government, a health worker checks the temperature of people to protect against the coronavirus in Pyongyang, North Korea. The coronavirus is the biggest reason for North Korea’s absence from the Tokyo Games. Always highly sensitive to communicable disease outbreaks, the nation has shut its borders tighter than normal, worried that its fragile health care system and rickety economy could not withstand a major outbreak. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP, File)

Jul. 28, 2021 02:10 AM EDT