Songnam Jang, manager of the North Korean weightlifting team, walked out of a press conference the other day after responding angrily to a journalist's query. In fact, the question was not provocative, but Jang did not like the way the scribe addressed his nation. North Korea is formally known as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), but the journalist began his question calling Jang "the team manager of North Korea". By walking out of the press meet, Jang was probably sending out a message to the world that DPRK is the 'real Korea'.
If you only look at the country's name, DPRK is a democracy, but it is widely viewed as an authoritarian hereditary dictatorship. At the Games Village, there is ample evidence of the restrictions imposed by the government on the civil and personal liberties of its citizens. Athletes from the country are not allowed to mingle with 'foreigners'. Even at the Games Village, they are not allowed to hang around with sportspersons from other countries. There are strict dress codes in place as well. Athletes and officials should wear only the official uniform and they are not allowed to wear tight and skinny pants or jeans.
When I asked a North Korean boxer about these restrictions, he refused to answer and stood with folded hands as if pleading to leave him alone.
Since the 2018 Asian Games, North Korea has not competed in any significant international sporting event, missing the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the 2022 Beijing Olympics, and the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar since the government shut its borders because of the COVID-19 outbreak. Though the sanctions remain to this day, the North Korean government decided to send its athletes to Hangzhou because of the closer relations between Pyongyang and Beijing.
Although North Koreans are not allowed to fly their flag at any regional, continental or world sports event over the country's non-compliance with global anti-doping rules, China did their neighbours a great favour by ignoring the sanctions imposed on them by the World Anti-Doping Authority. Countless North Korean flags can be spotted at the Games Village and stadiums in Hangzhou.
North Korean citizens cannot freely travel around the country, let alone travel abroad. Yet, hundreds of North Korean fans gather at every venue in Hangzhou, holding the national flag, to cheer for their countrymen.
It was Xi Yao, a journalist with Dejyang daily, who revealed the secret behind the support enjoyed by North Korea in Hangzhou. A majority of the North Korean fans are originally Chinese. It reminded me of the tried and tested method adopted by our political parties who hire people for their meetings and rallies to show off their strength.
