INJE, SOUTH KOREA - More than 200 sharply dressed North Korean cheerleaders decked out in expensive fur smiled and posed for the media and onlookers on Wednesday (Feb 7) after arriving in South Korea for the Pyeongchang Olympics. The 229 chic young women wore tailored knee-lenth scarlet coats with fur hats, fur collars, and matching cuffs to ward off the winter chill.

"I think they are very pretty," said a South Korean onlooker of the women who were part of a 280-member delegation who crossed the Demilitarized Zone that divides the two Koreas at a border post north of Seoul.

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NORTH KOREA

Olympics

After 10 days at the PyeongChang games, the 229 cheerleaders and 22 athletes are heading home.

A total of 299 North Koreans crossed the inter-Korean border at 12:38 pm on Feb 26. after going through the customs, immigration and quarantine office in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, on the southern side of the border.



The cheerleaders -- who captured the eyes and hearts of the Olympic audience after making their first cross-border trip in 13 years -- also left the South.

 They rooted mostly for the joint hockey team throughout their South Korean trip, which lasted a total of 19 days.

A cheerleader expressed her hope for a unified Korea saying that the Olympics was an opportunity that showed inter-Korean co-operation was the answer to unification.

"I thought that the two Koreas could be unified as soon as possible, as we are one," another cheerleader said. "I was so happy as I could cheer for the unified team."

More than 200 sharply dressed North Korean cheerleaders decked out in expensive fur smiled and posed for the media and onlookers on Wednesday (Feb 7) after arriving in South Korea for the Pyeongchang Olympics.

The 229 chic young women wore tailored knee-lenth scarlet coats with fur hats, fur collars, and matching cuffs to ward off the winter chill.

They were immediately whisked away in a convoy to their hotel in Inje county, a small rural town located 120 kilometres from the Games venue in Pyeongchang. 

The young women were given a quick bathroom break at a rest area in Gapyeong, located about halfway to their hotel destination. 

The women were part of a 280-member delegation who crossed the Demilitarized Zone that divides the two Koreas at a border post north of Seoul.

They strutted past South Koreans onlookers, who snapped out their smartphones for photos of the rare sight.

"I am happy to see you," said one cheerleader, beaming broadly but refusing to disclose their cheerleading routine.

"You just wait. If I tell you now, it would be less exciting when you see it."

The cheerleaders are reportedly the product of a careful selection process in North Korea.

They are screened for their family backgrounds, looks, skills and loyalty to the ruling Workers' Party.

The North has sent cheer squads to three international sports events hosted by the South - the 2002 Asian Games in Busan, the 2003 Summer Universiade in Daegu and the 2005 Asian Athletics Championships in Incheon.

One of those in the 2005 group, Ri Sol Ju, went on to become the wife of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

"I don't want to say it but North Korea's cheering squad is quite pretty. You can throw stones at me but the truth is the truth," said another observer on Twitter.

"I think they are very pretty," said a South Korean onlooker. 

At a dinner banquet hosted by South Korea, the cheerleaders - in matching bright red two-piece jackets and skirts complete with Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il lapel pins - were seen chatting among themselves at round tables.

The guests were served grilled scallops, shrimp wrapped in pickled radish, barbequed beef, beef stew, fruit and beer.

"A new era of reconcialiation has been opened," said a North Korean delegate leading the cheer squads, referring to a thaw in North and South Korean relations ahed of the Games.

With only 10 North Korean athletes competing for their country at the Games, and another 12 on the roster of a unified Korean women's ice hockey team, the cheerleaders will reportedly support South Korean athletes when none of their own are in action.

"By the way, I love the North Korean cheering squad's outfit. It's quite something! I want that hat!" said one South Korea fan on Twitter.  

For the cheering squad, this trip marks its first appearance in 13 years at a South Korea-hosted international sporting event. 

Some cheerleaders nodded and smiled when press asked whether they were all from Pyongyang, and replied they were from different age groups when questioned as to how old they are.

Reuters

INJE, SOUTH KOREA - More than 200 sharply dressed North Korean cheerleaders decked out in expensive fur smiled and posed for the media and onlookers on Wednesday (Feb 7) after arriving in South Korea for the Pyeongchang Olympics. The 229 chic young women wore tailored knee-lenth scarlet coats with fur hats, fur collars, and matching cuffs to ward off the...

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