Influence of North Korean Government
North Korea, officially known as Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), is a single-party state and a Stalinist dictatorship. Its figurehead is Kim Jong-un and its ruling party is the Workers’ Party of Korea. As the government strives for total control of its citizens, the outside world is kept largely ignorant of how the North Korean people live and what their thoughts and aspirations are. This could explain why South Korea’s domination at the PyeongChang Winter Olympics appears to have offended the nation so much, as they are completely overlooked.
North Korea has long been showing up to the Olympics with a limited number of athletes, only to walk away with a few medals and little recognition. This shows that North Korea is serious about the Olympics and is trying to compete at the highest level. The country even took the initiative to send the first ever North Korean athletes to the Summer and Winter Olympics in 2000, and in 2004, North Korea even hosted the East Asian Games.
Economics of Participation
But what is the cost of North Korea competing in the Olympics? Various reports suggest that the North Korean government has spent millions of dollars preparing for global sporting events, not to mention the cost of training and sending athletes to the Olympics. It is thought that North Korea is using the Olympics to gain a diplomatic advantage, as the country seeks to demonstrate its strength and prestige on the world stage.
The benefits of competing in the Olympics are also clear. North Korea has the potential to earn medals at the games and promote its athletes to become heroes and role models for the North Korean people. Most importantly, the Olympics provide North Korea with an opportunity to engage with the outside world in an environment that is much less loaded than day-to-day geopolitics.
North Korean Athletes
The athletes that represent North Korea vary in terms of skill, but they all have something in common – they have all chosen to leave their country and compete in the Olympics. A number of North Korean athletes have achieved great success in their respective sports, with several teams and individuals scooping up medals and ultimately, gaining international recognition.
Most notably, North Korea’s figure skaters took home gold in the pairs and ice dancing categories in the 2018 Winter Olympics. North Korea’s athletes were also successful on the snowboarding slopes, with Kim Kang-min taking gold in the men’s slopestyle at the 2018 Winter Youth Olympics. North Korean athletes have had some less successful outings as well, as is to be expected. However, for many North Koreans, seeing their country represented in the world stage is a source of great pride.
The North Korean Cheering Squad
Aside from the athletes, another area of the Olympics where North Korea has been visible is with their iconic “army” of cheerleaders. The North Korean cheerleaders have been present at many Olympic Games, starting with the 2000 Sydney Olympics, where they took part in a joint performance with South Korean cheerleaders. Since then, North Korea has sent a large number of cheerleaders to the Olympics each time, including over 140 in 2018 – making them the largest delegation by a long shot.
The North Korean cheerleaders are quite famous for their navy-blue and red costumes and for their captivating synchronised dancing and chants. They have even been referred to as the “human walls” of North Korea due to the massive size of their contingents. Despite the controversy they have caused, they have become a source of pride for the North Koreans, as they aim to show their presence in the international arena.
Official Political Reactions
Political reactions to the North Korean delegation have been mostly positive. South Korea was one of the few countries that extended an official invite to North Korea to attend the 2018 Winter Olympics, with the South Korean President Moon Jae-in even declaring that the two Koreas should “work together as one team” to make sure the games ran smoothly. The international community, through various United Nations resolutions, has also expressed a positive opinion on the North Korean athletes, encouraging the country to take part in the Olympics and other international sporting events.
Unofficial Reactions
However, there are some that remain unconvinced that North Korea’s attendance in the Olympics is beneficial for the national and international political scene. Critics point out that North Korea is using the Olympics to gain diplomatic leverage and to legitimise its authoritarian rule. They contend that North Korea is using the Olympics to distract from its human rights record, as well as its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes.
Propaganda in the Media
The contribution of the international media should also not be overlooked. North Korea has taken great advantage of global media attention to create propagandist images of its athletes and to bring attention to its athletes’ achievements. North Korean press outlets have also taken great advantage of the Olympics to spread their ideology to the world, even though it may be misleading or inaccurate.
Was It Worth It?
To conclude, it is difficult to determine whether North Korea’s attendance in the Olympics was beneficial to the nation in purely political or economic terms. But it is important to remember that North Koreans do have something to gain from the Olympics. It is a chance for North Koreans to gain exposure, for their athletes to be recognised and for their citizens to take pride in the national team’s performance. In the end, how much North Korea actually benefits from attending the Olympics largely depends on what the North Korean government wants to achieve and how much effort it puts into it.
