tensions, North Korea
unexpectedly decided to attend
the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics
in South Korea. So why is the
North participating and what could
go right or wrong during the
Games?
Is North Korea's attendance a big deal?
Yes. While it is not unusual for
North Korea to take part in
international sporting events, this
one is different because of
context and timing.
The Korean peninsula has been
divided since the 1950-53 war. The
two sides have never signed a
peace treaty and the last Olympics
in South Korea, in 1988, were
boycotted by the North.
Throughout 2017, the North
conducted numerous missile tests,
including rockets they said could
reach the US mainland. This came
amid an unprecedented war of
words between US President
Donald Trump and North Korea's
Kim Jong-un.
North v South: A history of
sport, bombs and diplomacy
North Korea's cheerleading
charm offensive
But Pyongyang's decision to
attend meant talks took place
between North and South for the
first time in years. It is even
sending its nominal head of state
to the South for the first time
ever.
But is it a diplomatic breakthrough?
Yes and no.
Kim Jong-un caught everyone by
surprise when he raised the
prospect of Olympic attendance in
his new year speech.
This was followed by an invitation
from the South, fast-paced
meetings and within weeks it was
agreed the North would send
athletes as well as a cultural
troupe.
But this was not the result of a
long diplomatic effort and does
not put an end to underlying
tensions.
Although the South did postpone
one of its routine military drills
with the US, which always enrages
the North, nothing has been
resolved on the nuclear front.
"Any future interactions over
other strategic issues, whether
it's weapons of mass destruction
or family reunions, will probably
prove to be more difficult," North
Korea analyst Michael Madden
cautions.
Might the North disrupt the Games?
Very unlikely.
Ahead of the 1988 Seoul Olympics,
agents from the North blew up a
South Korean passenger plane.
Before the latest developments
many might have predicted the
North could disrupt events with a
missile test.
But its participation is almost
seen as an insurance policy
against belligerent action - for
the moment at least.
A missile launch during the Games
would be "totally
counterproductive," Oliver Hotham
of North Korea watchers NK News
warns, but we should "expect
tests in Spring once it's all
wrapped up".
Is the North new to the Olympics?
No. North Korea is a regular
participant at international sports
events despite its pariah status.
They're not even doing that badly.
North Korea has won 56 Olympic
medals, 16 of them gold- but only
two came from the Winter Games.
Although the North boycotted the
1988 Olympics in Seoul, they have
attended other competitions in the
South. In the 2002 Asian Games in
Busan they won nine gold medals
and secured 33 spots on the
podium.
Reality Check: How good is
North Korea at sport?
Coaching North Korea's figure
skaters in Canada
Will Team NK bring home any medals this
time?
Most likely not.
There will be 22 athletes from the
North
, but none are thought to be
medal prospects.
The only ones who actually
qualified on sporting merit are a
duo of figure skaters.
"Right now, to be realistic, the
goal is to make it into the top 12,"
their Canadian coach Bruno
Marcotte told the BBC.
The attendance of other players
were agreed in a meeting between
the North, South and the
International Olympic Committee.
.
They are not expected to perform
superlatively.
Will the two Koreas compete as one?
Yes and no. The teams will march
at the opening ceremony as one
country, under a single "unified
Korea" flag.
The flag shows the entire Korean
peninsula in blue on a white
background and has made an
appearance at previous sporting
events.
In the run-up to the Olympics,
some South Korean skiers
participated in a joint training
programme at a ski resort in the
North.
Twelve female ice hockey players
from North Korea will also
participate as part of a joint
team with the South, but all other
athletes will compete for their
respective countries, including
two North Korean skiers who will
take part in the Paralympics in
March.
Are athletes the only North Koreans going?
No. Alongside 22 athletes, the
country is sending an 400-strong
delegation to the games.
Among those will be a will be a
team of cheerleaders, 30
taekwondo practitioners and a
140-member orchestra, the
nationalist Samjiyon Band, dishing
out patriotic songs.
They will be led by the highest-
ranking official to ever travel
South, the North's ceremonial
head of state Kim Yong-nam.
So is this a propaganda win?
In the eyes of Pyongyang - yes,
both domestically and globally.
"The portrayal of Kim Jong-un as
a gracious peacemaker will play
well domestically," says Mr Hotham
and fits the North's image of
itself as a peace-loving nation,
the victim of relentless
international aggression.
There is a global dimension too:
"The message is that this nuclear
power is cultured and is thriving
despite sanctions," he adds.
For Seoul, it is a chance to signal
goodwill and build confidence
between the governments as well
as public confidence. But it is
recognised as a propaganda
offensive and few believe it will
alter relations on core issues.
Will athletes escape Pyongyang's tight grip of
control?
Perhaps a little bit. North Korea is
notorious for shielding its citizens
from contact with the outside
world and athletes will also be
under tight surveillance.
But international athletes are
more exposed. The two figure
skaters spent six weeks training
in Canada and are regular guests
at international competitions.
Can North Koreans watch the Games?
Most likely yes.
Sporting events like the Olympics
are shown on television, but they
might not be broadcast live and
there will be censorship.
Things get complicated when
competitions involve Pyongyang's
"enemies": the US, Japan or South
Korea.
At the 2014 Asian Games the
North faced the South in the
football final.
With a goal in extra time, the
South was the side to take the
trophy: the match was not shown
in the North and the result never
officially mentioned.
I'm seeing two spellings of Pyeongchang
Yes. You will come across both
Pyeongchang and PyeongChang -
the latter version is what you'll
see on the official logos for
instance.
The organisers chose to capitalise
the C to avoid confusion with
Pyongyang, the capital of the
North.
