North Korea is playing diplomatic gymnastics at the Olympics
The Briefing9 Aug 2024

North Korea is playing diplomatic gymnastics at the Olympics

There was a bit of a media frenzy at the Paris games recently when North Korean athletes posed for selfies with South Korean competitors at the gymnastics. Those same athletes were also spotted cheering for American rivals, hugging competitors and waving and smiling for tv cameras.

There has been cautious optimism that the usually hermit-like North is finally starting to open up to the world after a period of extreme isolation.

But how much of this display at the Olympics is diplomatic gymnastics, carefully planned and carried out as positive PR for the totalitarian state?

In this episode of The Briefing Sacha Barbour Gatt speaks with Roald Maliangkay, associate professor in Korean studies and director of the Korea Institute at the Australian National University to find out.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episoder(2681)

Bitcoin – the environmental cost explained

Bitcoin – the environmental cost explained

Of all the things to destabilise Bitcoin... it turns out the environment has been a key factor. The digital currency has seen some wild price drops over the last two weeks. It peaked at 63,000 USD ...

26 Mai 202121min

Why losing your religion is harder than it looks

Why losing your religion is harder than it looks

Monica Dux has written a book called Lapsed... about walking away from Catholicism, her childhood religion. It’s a relevant story in today’s world because Catholicism in Australia has been in slow d...

25 Mai 202119min

Colombia in crisis: power of the people

Colombia in crisis: power of the people

Violent protests have broken out on the streets of Colombia. Demonstrations about tax reform have turned into massacres on the streets. Neighbourhoods have become battlegrounds as Colombians fight w...

24 Mai 202119min

How to keep calm as the property market surges out of reach

How to keep calm as the property market surges out of reach

There’s been a lot of talk this year about housing affordability after another surge in home and apartment prices. But interest rates have remained at record lows, meaning borrowing money is cheaper ...

23 Mai 202121min

The Royal Record - Queen Lizzy and The Briefing say "check it out "

The Royal Record - Queen Lizzy and The Briefing say "check it out "

The Royal Record is your weekly dose of Royal news, without the spin! Royal correspondent and expert Juliet Rieden and journalist Bryce Corbett use their insider info on The Royals to separate the fac...

22 Mai 20213min

The Weekend Briefing with Rick Morton

The Weekend Briefing with Rick Morton

Rick Morton’s book My Year of Living Vulnerably is topping best-seller lists around Australia for unpacking Australian masculinity. Jamila Rizvi sits down with Rick to talk about the male role model...

21 Mai 202128min

How to talk to conspiracy theorists

How to talk to conspiracy theorists

Everyone knows a conspiracy theorist. Someone who believes we didn’t make it to the moon; or the September 11 attacks were a hoax. How do you talk to them? Is engaging with them, giving their the...

20 Mai 202120min

Gaza stripped: Israel v Palestine explained

Gaza stripped: Israel v Palestine explained

The violence in Israel and Gaza explained. We’ll ask how it started... how similar is it to the last major flare ups in Israel... and what would it take to stop these cycles of violence? We’re joine...

19 Mai 202120min

Populært innen Politikk og nyheter

giver-og-gjengen-vg
aftenpodden
aftenpodden-usa
forklart
popradet
stopp-verden
dine-penger-pengeradet
rss-gukild-johaug
det-store-bildet
nokon-ma-ga
fotballpodden-2
lydartikler-fra-aftenposten
hanna-de-heldige
rss-ness
aftenbla-bla
rss-espen-lee-usensurert
rss-dannet-uten-piano
rss-penger-polser-og-politikk
frokostshowet-pa-p5
e24-podden