North Korean athletes have made headlines for their unexpected interactions with competitors from other nations at the Paris Olympics.
From posing for selfies with South Korean gymnasts to cheering for American rivals and smiling for cameras, could this be a sign of North Korea opening up, or is it just a strategic PR move?
Is North Korea using the Olympics as a PR exercise?
On today’s The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt speaks with Roald Maliangkay, Associate Professor in Korean Studies and Director of the Korea Institute at the Australian National University, to find out.
Historically, North Korea’s participation in international events like the Olympics has been marked by strict control and secrecy.
According to Professor Maliangkay, North Korean athletes receive extensive preparation before they leave for international competitions, including strict guidelines on how to present themselves.
“This is the first time I’ve seen North Korean athletes being so happy for, in this case, Simone Biles. At the same time, I’m sure that they will enjoy it very much, seeing the wonderful accomplishments of people in their own fields,” Maliangkay said.
“I think that’s absolutely genuine. I don’t think we can politicise that too much,” he added.
Despite cautious optimism that these displays of friendliness could signal a softening of North Korea’s stance, the reality may be more complex.
The country’s media coverage of these events is minimal, and its athletes are typically subject to rigorous protocols and tight monitoring.
“The usual procedure with these kinds of international engagements is that they will be monitored quite closely and debriefed… I’m sure that when they get home they can talk about how hard it was or how happy they were, but nothing political,” Maliangkay concluded.
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