North Korea says it will not take part in the upcoming Beijing Winter Olympics and Paralympics, citing the worldwide spread of the coronavirus among other reasons.

The state-run Korean Central News Agency reported on Friday that North Korea's Olympic Committee and Ministry of Physical Culture and Sports had sent a letter to the organizing committees of the Beijing Olympics and Paralympics and other entities, informing them that the country will skip the Games.

The letter cited moves by "hostile forces" and the "worldwide pandemic" as reasons for the decision.

In an apparent reference to the diplomatic boycotts declared by the US and some other nations, the letter said, "the US and its vassal forces are getting evermore undisguised in their moves against China."

The letter went on to say that North Korea rejects such moves, calling them "a base act of attempting to disgrace the international image of China."

However, the North expressed its support for the Beijing Winter Games, saying it believes they will be successfully opened.

North Korea did not send a delegation to the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics last year.

Whether the country would take part in the Winter Games had been closely watched as they will be hosted by its closest ally, China.