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North Korea to Send "Army of Beauties" to PyeongChang 2018 Olympics

With his own deployable, state-sponsored beauty pageant, Kim Jong-un is truly the Trump of North Korea.
Photo by EPA-EFE

In addition to far-reaching nuclear missiles, Kim Jong-un apparently has a readymade, state-sponsored beauty pageant at his disposal. The troupe has been dubbed North Korea's "army of beauties," and Jong-un is going to deploy them to Pyeongchang to make an appearance at South Korea's Winter Olympics, per the Los Angeles Times.

Among the negotiations the North Korean government made with South Korea—including their agreement to march together during opening ceremonies—was the permission to have this 230-woman "army of beauties" come and cheer on the estimated 10 North Korean athletes who will actually be permitted to participate in the games. At least, that's what they claim. The group of women are actually a propaganda tool, armed with chants, dances, songs, and are known to dress up in military-style dress the entire time.

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From the Times:

But the cheering squad’s synchronized routines over the years have captured the attention of many South Koreans, most likely the reason they’re in the North’s delegation. Its members — generally in their mid-20s or younger and at least 5 feet, 4 inches tall — are picked from art troupes or schools, such as Kim Il Sung University in Pyongyang. The squad features a brass band.

“It is highly unlikely that any North Korean athlete would win a medal, so propaganda value is much bigger than sports value,” said Ahn Chan-il, a defector who is now president of the World Institute for North Korea Studies. “What other country would send such cheerleaders to the Olympics but North Korea?”

One well known "army of beauties" veteran is Kim Jong-un's wife, Ri Sol-ju. Oh, and there is apparently a screening test for this particular "army of beauties," and it might not be what you think at first—also from the Times:

The tense history between the two countries is also reflected in the makeup of the cheering squad, whose members are screened for loyalty and cannot have current relatives in South Korea, an effort to prevent defections.

Yup, perfectly normal stuff going on here.