I mean, for most countries it's a way of putting themselves on the map and it's also to increase their soft power and influence in the world, but I don't get why North Korea is in the Olympics?

I mean, even if it is for propaganda purposes, I feel like it might not go down well with the citizens of their country when they get to know the "Evil Americans and the No-good Japanese" win many many more medals than the motherland. And let's not forget there is a risk of players calling it quits (it has happened before), so why are they gaining from it?

PS: North Korea won a silver btw.

edit: To everyone who replies, know that I appreciate your answers even if I can't reply to every one of you! :)

edit 2: Forget the Americans or the Japanese, South Koreans participate too, I mean, do they even report how many medals their brothers on the other side won? I mean, I would not have been able to wipe off the feeling that we are in the wrong Korea if I knew how many medals South Koreans win (and they bloody win a lot at Shooting too, Shooting, it's like the Unique Selling Point of North Korea :').

  • utopologist [any]
    ·
    4 months ago

    This might be a good opportunity to do some self-reflecting on your beliefs about the DPRK! When you observe that objective facts don't line up with your perception of this country, the correct thing to do is not to say "how can I twist what I'm observing into an explanation that will leave my perception unchallenged"; it's to say "perhaps my perception of this country is flawed" and re-evaluate