‘N. Korea takes gold for Olympic diplomacy’
PYEONGCHANG: While its athletes are returning home emptyhanded from the Winter Olympics, analysts say nuclear-armed North Korea deserves a gold medal for its diplomatic skills – but that the Games-driven détente will be shortlived.
An intense rapprochement saw the two Koreas march into the opening ceremony together behind a unification flag, and South Korea’s president shared a historic handshake with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s visiting sister.
North Korea sent 22 athletes to the Games, most of whom had humiliating finishes, and a hastily-assembled joint women’s ice hockey team lost every one of its five matches, scoring just twice while conceding 28 goals.
But analysts say the Winter Olympics was never about winning medals for the North.
“It was all about image-making,” said Koo Kab-woo, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies.
“They proved they are not a ‘rogue state’ and also got around sanctions.”
Tensions between the two soared last year as Pyongyang tested missiles capable of reaching the US mainland and its most powerful nuclear device to date, while Kim and US President Donald Trump traded personal insults and threats of war.
The North is subject to multiple rounds of UN Security Council sanctions over its banned weapons programmes.
After prevaricating for years over whether it would take part, North Korea sent its athletes and 200-plus female cheerleaders who roamed the Games venue with big smiles and friendly waves, becoming a focus for many spectators.
The sight of North and South Korean hockey players hugging and tearing up after the unified team’s final match touched many fans, despite initial opposition in the South to the formation of the team.
But it was the trip to the South for the opening ceremony by Kim’s younger sister Kim Yo-jong – the first member of the North’s ruling dynasty to visit since the 1953 end of the Korean War – that was the highlight of Pyongyang’s charm offensive.
“She was a perfect person to give a message and that is exactly what she has done,” said Andrei Lankov, a professor at Kookmin University.
“She invited President Moon Jaein for a summit and she smiled broadly,” he added.
She created a good impression, which was “exactly what North Koreans wanted”.
“They are brilliant diplomats, they are highly rational, some are cynical, very Machiavellian and usually very, very successful.” — AFP