Kim Ryon Hyang of North Korea skis during the first run of the women's slalom at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang. While smaller in population - 16 million in 1990 for East Germany, 25 million for today's North Korea - East Germany was second only to the Soviet Union in the medal count at three summer games. North Korea didn't even have a roster for Pyeongchang until last month. Even so, the North has made noteworthy strides in sports since Kim Jong Un assumed power in late 2011. "It's one piece of many in the effort to modernise North Korea and promote 'national glory' domestically and internationally.

Source: Bangkok Post February 19, 2018 19:18 UTC