North Korea’s participation in the Pyeongchang Olympics have reportedly become a hot topic of conversation in the markets of Kangwon Province.
“People have been talking about the Olympics ever since news broke that our country would be participating,” a source in Ryanggang Province told Daily NK on January 22. “We have absolutely no information about the athletes that will be competing, but our mere participation is cause for excitement.”
Anticipation for the games among ordinary people has been growing, and the general feeling is of envy towards the athletes, cheer squad members, and others who will be traveling to South Korea for the occasion.
“I have heard people sounding envious, talking about whether or not the South will ‘look like it does in the TV dramas,’ and that we’ll ‘be able to find out from the people that are going now,'” the source said.
Reaction to the North’s participation has been a hot topic even though state media outlets like the Rodong Sinmun have avoided mention that the Olympics are being hosted by South Korea. Residents have for the most part been drawing conclusions from Kim Jong Un’s New Year’s address and rumors spread by word-of-mouth.
“Sports fans are remarking about how North Korea has never once held a major international sporting event and how South Korea is hosting the Olympics for a second time,” the source added. “Most people see it as showing just how rich South Korea is.”
Talk over potential positive or negative results of competitions in which North Korean athletes are competing has also become a hot issue.
For example, there is worry over the pressure put on the athletes by Kim Jong Un due to his history of placing special importance on such individuals.
A separate source in Ryanggang Province said that people are paying attention because of Kim Jong Un’s keen interest in sports, and that they are worried about the athletes who will thus “be made to bear full responsibility if they come home empty-handed.”
But she also said that public opinion is turning towards the belief that the athletes may not be rebuked for failing to win medals as they may have been in the past. This is because in the aftermath of the purge of Kim Won Hong, the former head of North Korea’s Ministry of State Security, Kim Jong Un has reportedly ordered the MSS to cease violating human rights.
“Kim Jong Un is now looking more at the person than the mistake,” she said. “The eyes of the world are on him now, so it doesn’t seem like there will be any big punishment for athletes who do not bring home Olympic medals.”
