North Korean athletes under 24/7 surveillance
North Korean cheerleaders encourage Un Song-choe of North Korea during the Olympic men's 1500-meter short-track speed skating competition at the Gangneung Ice Arena Feb. 10. Yonhap
By Kim Hyun-bin
North Korean Olympic athletes are under tight surveillance around the clock and have limited access to the rest of the athletes from different countries.
A report by CNN indicates that North Korea has deployed minders to follow its athletes to prevent them from defecting to the South.
Around 500 North Koreans including athletes, officials, security officials and cheerleaders are in PyeongChang to take part in the Winter Olympics.
The two Koreas marched in unison during the opening ceremony, carrying a “unification flag,” waving and smiling to the crowds and cameras.
However, a defector says what was seen on screen, contradicts the reality of the North’s delegation.
“The North Korean delegation is divided into three big groups,” said Han Seo-hee, a former cheerleader who defected from North Korea in 2006. ”There are athletes, administrative officials and security members.”
The security members surround the athletes at all time as any defection during the duration of the Olympics will become an international embarrassment.
Usually athletes bunk with teammates, but for North Korean athletes they share a bunk with minders who keep watch of their every move and jot down who they talk to.
The minders provide security, supervision and translation for the delegation. They also report anything suspicious to party leaders in Pyongyang.
The minders go to extreme lengths to guarantee the athlete’s whereabouts at all times including following them to the bathroom.
Han said with all the tight security no athletes will try to defect to the South.
“I wouldn't have even considered it." Han said. "It will be the same for the cheerleading squad this time. They have family back home; they know if they defect, their family will be terrified and punished."
Han said not only the security officials, but every member of the delegation is on high alert to report anything out of the ordinary for fear of getting reprimanded.
However, two North Korean athletes have defected during international competitions in the past. In 1997, a women’s ice hockey player defected and in 1999, a judo athlete defected during a competition in Spain.
In the last two decades some 30,000 North Korean citizens have crossed over the border to neighboring countries.