North Korea is back at the Olympics after an eight-year absence. The communist state was suspended from the 2022 Winter Olympics by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for pulling out of the Tokyo Games in 2020 due to the pandemic.
Now, North Korean athletes are in Paris, not just to win medals, but to rebuild trust with the Olympic family. They want to compete under their country’s preferred name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). This is an opportunity for North Korea to mend its relationship with the IOC and gain much-needed funds.
In the past, the IOC provided funds to North Korea to develop sports through the Olympic Solidarity Programme. This financial support was vital for a country facing international sanctions due to its nuclear weapons program. The Paris Olympics are a chance for North Korea to regain respect and funds.
Kim Il-guk, North Korea’s minister of sport, is leading the delegation in Paris. He signed the Olympic Korean Peninsula Declaration before the 2022 Winter Olympics in South Korea, where North and South Korea agreed to field a unified team in women’s ice hockey. Kim has been active in building North Korea’s ties with the IOC.
During the Games, the North Korean delegation has won five medals. Athletes from North and South Korea even took a selfie together at the podium, showing a rare moment of unity. However, North Korea is adamant about being referred to as the DPRK, not just “North Korea.”
While North Korea has made a positive return to the Olympics, its weightlifters are notably absent. Weightlifting is a stronghold for North Korea, but allegations of doping may be keeping them out. The International Weightlifting Federation invited North Korean weightlifters to qualifiers, but they chose not to participate.
Looking ahead, North Korea faces a challenge with Russia planning the World Friendship Games in 2025. Russia expects North Korean athletes to attend, but the IOC may penalize those who participate. North Korea will need to navigate this situation carefully to avoid losing credibility with either party.
As North Korea balances its return to the Olympic stage with international relations, the country’s actions in the coming months will be crucial in determining its future in the global sports arena.