North Korea performs diplomatic gymnastics in Olympic comebackReuters An Chang-ok gave fleeting waves and smiles for the cameras on SaturdayAs the Paris gymnastics arena roared on American Simone Biles for her third gold medal of the 2024 Olympics, one of those applauding was none other than An Chang-ok, a rival from North Korea. Saturday’s women’s vault final saw the North share a stage with its foes South Korea and the US. This new generation of North Korean athletes have claimed two silvers in Paris, and occasionally surprised sport commentators who did not know what to expect from them. The age-old North Korean art of “sports diplomacy” involved limited participation in a global forum to prove the country was normal, Prof Pacheco Pardo said. Athletes were some of the “few actors that North Korea has who won’t be viewed suspiciously” by the world, he explained.

Source: The North Africa Journal August 04, 2024 17:21 UTC