All this allows Pyongyang to pretend that everything is OK back home. But the United Nations as well as  NGO Human Rights Watch has detailed how the North Korean government routinely conducts gross human rights violations, such as enslavement, torture, imprisonment, rape, and forced abortion on its people.

Meanwhile, to keep people back home from comparing their quality of life to that of the rest of the world, the hermit state has blocked citizens from watching the Olympic festivities.

North Korea is also keen to make sure that there is no opportunity for defection at the Olympics, either. Athletes, officials, performers, and reporters visiting South Korea will be surrounded by vetted members of North Korea’s elite, who will act as minders and informants.


Read more: The Olympics are a mass propaganda tool for countries to assimilate their citizens

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