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In the electrifying atmosphere of the Paris gymnastics arena, American Simone Biles captivated the crowd as she won her third gold medal at the 2024 Olympics. Among the crowd cheering her on was an unexpected admirer: North Korean gymnast and rival An Chang-ok.
In addition to applauding Biles, the 21-year-old An showed a rare display of camaraderie, smiling and waving at the camera and even hugging another finalist. Such interactions with foreigners are unusual for young North Korean athletes, especially under the watchful eyes of North Korean officials.
In Saturday’s women’s vault final, North Korea competed against arch-rivals South Korea and the United States.
The participation of North Korean athletes in the Olympics has fueled optimism that the reclusive country could be reopening after years of isolation. The development is particularly notable given recent tensions, when North Korea launched balloons filled with trash toward the South Korean border.
Jean H. Lee, a former AP reporter who served as the agency’s Pyongyang bureau chief, believes North Korea’s participation in the Paris Olympics marks a “significant” return to the international stage. In 2021, North Korea chose to withdraw from the Tokyo Olympics, further isolating itself due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, their participation in the Paris Olympics reflects their attempt to reengage with the international community. Lee noted that North Korea has made this effort even though its nuclear program remains a focus of tension between North Korea, South Korea and the United States.
Interestingly, there was no animosity between the gymnasts from the three nations at Saturday’s competition, as the new crop of North Korean athletes won two silver medals in Paris, impressing sports commentators who were unsure about their performance.
The role of sports diplomacy
North Korea’s goal at these Olympics is not just to win medals. Ramon Pacheco Pardo, a professor at King’s College London, said North Korea has long pursued a strategy of “sports diplomacy.” This strategy involves participating in international forums to show the country’s normalcy. Professor Pacheco Pardo explained that athletes are one of the few North Korean figures that the international community does not suspect.
Selfies with South Korean athletes were one of the few visible interactions during the Olympics, along with a sparse press conference featuring two North Korean table tennis players. Outside the arena, footage showed An Chang-ok collecting a collection of badges, a popular trade item among international gymnasts.
Despite exposure to Western culture, according to Jean H. Lee, co-host of the BBC World Service’s Lazarus Heist podcast, North Korean athletes are still subject to rigorous “evaluations” upon return to ensure they are aligned with the regime’s stance. Contrary to popular belief, analysts believe athletes who do not win medals are unlikely to be punished. However, they may undergo “self-criticism” to reflect on their performance.
No medals represent less a possible punishment than a missed opportunity for reward. Everard, a prominent analyst, explains that successful athletes may receive higher social status and tangible benefits, such as a new house.
It is unclear whether this latest move in sports diplomacy will lead to substantive diplomatic discussions between the two Koreas. The positive atmosphere in Paris at the start of the Olympics was threatened when organizers mistakenly swapped the names of the two countries at the opening ceremony, prompting a formal apology from the latter.
Outside Bercy Stadium after Saturday’s gymnastics competition, a fan from Seoul expressed doubt that the interactions would lead to major political change, though she acknowledged that seeing athletes from both Koreas competing together reminded them of their shared humanity.
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