As one of the most isolated and mysterious countries in the world, North Korea’s presence in the Olympics is always a reason for speculation—and not just in terms of how the country’s secretive government will respond. North Korea has participated in the Olympics for decades, but in recent years, its involvement has become more politically charged and controversial.
In the 2014 Sochi Winter Games, North Korea made its 18th Olympic appearance with a delegation that included 22 athletes. For the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, the International Olympic Committee approved more than 50 North Korean athletes to compete—including 24 in cross-country skiing, 12 in figure skating, and 10 in alpine skiing—the first time the country has ever sent a full-size delegation to a Winter Games. The North Korean team crossed the border into South Korea with the iconic blue “unification” flag of both countries.
North Korea’s approach to the Olympics has combined traditional sporting prowess with cold-blooded diplomatic calculation. Its athletes have won awards and success, but not as many as its close neighbor, South Korea. North Korea’s leaders have also used the Olympics as a platform for political statements. In the 2014 Sochi Winter Games, their athletes held up photos of North Korea’s former leader, Kim Jong-il, during medal ceremonies, and in the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, despite heightened tensions between North and South Korea and the US, athletes from both sides marched under the unification flag in an unprecedented display of unity and solidarity.
Some experts believe it would be wrong to see North Korea’s involvement in the Olympics as merely a political tactic. The country is a legitimate Olympic contender with a strong record in figure skating, judo, and boxing and a slew of successful medal winners at previous Games. North Korea’s female football team, known as the “Chollima Girls” after the mythical winged horse the country adopted as a national symbol, have won numerous medals and have developed a cult following across the world.
However, others argue that behind North Korea’s seemingly innocent Olympic presence lies a sinister political agenda. Critics have alleged that allowing North Korean athletes to compete in the Olympics abets a regime that has repeatedly violated international law and human rights, and does not hesitate to use violence to suppress its own people. Under the regime of Kim Jong-un, North Korea has been driven further into autocracy and, according to human rights groups, millions of its citizens continue to suffer in gulags, famine, and preventable diseases.
While North Korea’s involvement in the Olympics is evidence of its desire for greater global recognition, it should not be overlooked that it is fundamentally a totalitarian and oppressive regime. The International Olympic Committee’s decision to include North Korea in the Games should not be seen as a sign of legitimization for the country’s government, and it should not be taken as anything other than an invitation to participate in an event of friendly athletic competition.
North Koreans in the Olympic Games
In past Olympic Games, North Korea and its athletes have constantly made headlines. In the 2012 Olympic Games held in London, they caused quite a stir after they took second, third and fourth place in a women’s weightlifting event, despite having a team of only twelve athletes. North Korea also broke world records in judo, artistic gymnastics, and women’s diving.
In the Rio Summer Olympics in 2016, North Korea’s athletes brought back a total of 11 medals, most of which were won in judo, gymnastics, and weightlifting. Kim Un-guk, a North Korean weightlifter, set a new world record in the men’s 62kg category on his way to winning gold. Two of the other medals were won by Om Yun-chol and Kim Song-i in shooting, a sport North Korea has rarely made inroads in.
At the 2018 Winter Olympics, North Korea had its largest ever delegation, with representatives from the National Olympic Committees of both North and South Korea marching in to a stadium sporting the unified Korean flag, and a combined female hockey team competing under the same banner. Though North Korean athletes only won 4 medals, this representation was noteworthy, representing a shift in the nation’s attitude towards the Games.
Overall, North Korea has had less success than South Korea in the Olympics. While South Korea has won over 175 medals, North Korea has only won 22, none of which have been gold medals. In some events, however, they have proven to be formidable opponents, such as in judo and weightlifting.
North Korea and the Politics of International Sports
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has made great efforts to keep politics out of their games. The IOC has long-standing regulations that restrict any displays of political statements or symbols during an event or at any medal ceremony. This rule was created to keep the games focused on athletics and sportsmanship, rather than political squabbles.
However, the presence of North Korea has added a layer of political tension to the sport and to the Olympics as a whole. North Korea has a long history of politicizing its sporting events in international competitions, often by including nationalistic messages on their athlete’s uniforms or waving flags which contain political statements. Their presence in the Olympics has also been a source of tension due to the stark political differences between North Korea and much of the rest of the world.
Due to these considerations, the IOC has implemented several measures to ensure that North Korea’s presence does not cause any additional turbulence for the games. These measures include banning any political statements or symbols from being used at their events, as well as prohibiting their athletes from engaging in nationalistic chants or pointing at nearby cameras. This has created a precarious situation, as North Korea’s presence in the games is often seen as a source of support for their controversial political policies.
In spite of this, the IOC continues to make efforts to include North Korea in the Olympics. Despite the ongoing disagreements between the country and other participants, the IOC believes that it is important to give all countries the opportunity to compete in their global sporting competitions.
The Impact of North Korean Presence
North Korean athletes have made an impact in the Olympics through several different sports, but their presence has also raised several questions about how their continued presence affects the Games. Many have argued that allowing North Korea to participate in the Olympics provides them with a platform to promote their own political agenda. This could lead to further international disputes between North Korea and other nations, or worse, war.
Besides potential political issues, another controversial aspect of North Korea’s participation is the belief that the country forces its athletes to perform in the Olympics or risk being punished or exiled. This has raised questions about the validity of North Korea’s athletic achievements, and has made some question the morality of allowing these athletes to participate.
In spite of all of these controversies, North Korea has made significant strides in terms of its participation in the Olympics. While they may still have a long way to go, their presence has continually caused a stir and debate amongst the international community.
North Korea and the International Community
The international community has taken varying stances in relation to North Korea’s participation in the Olympics. The United Nations has repeatedly urged North Korea to reconsider its stance on human rights and political freedom and to make progress toward denuclearization. Meanwhile, the United States has maintained a consistent stance of diplomatic isolation and economic sanctions.
In spite of the political implications of North Korea’s participation, the IOC has continued to invite North Korea to the Olympics. This has been seen by some as a gesture of goodwill and an attempt to open up North Korea to the international community. However, it has also been criticized by some as too lenient and as legitimizing the authoritarian regime in North Korea.
Overall, North Korea’s presence in the Olympics is a complex issue. It recognizes their legitimate achievements in sports, but at the same time lacks the necessary oversight to ensure a level playing field. What’s more, it provides North Korea with an international platform to push its political agenda, which could have dangerous and far-reaching implications.
Conclusion of North Korea’s Role in the Olympics
North Korea’s presence in the Olympics has had a complicated impact on the international stage. On one hand, it has provided North Korean athletes the opportunity to showcase their talents and achievements, and has allowed the international community to have an improved understanding of the country. On the other hand, it has allowed North Korea to use the Games as propaganda and to further their political agenda.
Ultimately, the IOC will have to decide how to move forward with North Korea’s involvement in the Olympic Games. This decision should be made with both the potential benefits and drawbacks of North Korea’s presence in mind, and the decision should ultimately be based on what is best for the Games and for the international community as a whole.
