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How North Korea has deployed a tool that has polarized the Winter Olympics

The North Koreans' two most unlikely spectators, South Korean President Moon Jae-in and US Vice-President Mike Pence, were seated below and to the right of them

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Joshua Robinson, Eun-Young Jeong | WSJ
South Korea—The diplomatic efforts between the two Koreas at the Pyeongchang Olympics so far have included a visit from Kim Jong Un’s sister, bilateral meetings and the decision to field a single squad of athletes under the flag of a unified Korea.

Those instruments of statecraft, however, were conspicuously lacking in choreographed chants and speedy wardrobe changes. For that, North Korea has fallen back on its favorite weapon of mass distraction: cheerleader diplomacy.

Already among the most polarizing attractions of these Winter Games, a squad of more than 100 young women in matching red tracksuits made its Olympic debut on