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Agence France-Presse

North Korean skaters Ryom Tae-ok and Kim Ju-sik produced the performance of their lives to smash their personal-best score and qualify for Thursday’s pairs final at the Winter Olympics.
Vociferously backed by 200 singing North Korean cheerleaders, the duo seduced the supportive crowd on their Games debut with an excellent execution of their short programme to the Beatles classic A Day in the Life.
Medal count - Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games
The 19-year-old Ryom and her partner Kim are the only two of the 22 North Korean athletes at the Games in South Korea to meet Olympic qualifying standards – the rest got in on a special invitation as part of a landmark agreement that led to some calling this the “Peace Olympics”.
And their skill was on full display at the Gangneung Ice Arena, the judges awarding them 69.40 points, destroying their previous highest score of 65.25 and propelling them into the free-skate final in 11th place.

The pair were initially marched past the media by a minder without stopping to discuss their electric performance.
But just before they left, Kim said the support from the crowd – North Korean cheerleaders and South Koreans – had been a huge boost.
Schedule - Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games
“There has been no discomfort and now that we have competed, [we could see] how strong our Korean people can be when we are together,” the 25-year-old said.
“We are one people sharing the same bloodline.”

Resplendent in matching black trousers and black-and-silver-sequinned tops, Kim and Ryom looked relaxed and confident, giving the impression this was their fifth Olympics – rather than their first.
“And now the two skaters from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea!” barked the stadium announcer, her voice drowned out by cheers from supporters from both Koreas – two countries still technically at war.
Results - Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games
Jeff Beck’s haunting guitar strains filled the air as Ryom and Kim nailed their opening triple twist lift, generating a roar of approval from the stands.
At the end of their routine they smiled, waved and bowed, and jumped up in delight when their marks flashed up on the big screen.

Watching from rinkside was their Canadian coaching consultant Bruno Marcotte, with whom they spent a spell training in Montreal last year.
In the run-up to the competition, he said his students were up against it.
“Let’s be honest, they’re ranked 15th in the world. It’s a really strong field,” he said.
Winter Olympic Games results history
“They were 15th at the world championships in Helsinki, if they come top 12 we’d be ecstatic.”
The couple’s presence at the 2018 Games was only confirmed following a sudden rapprochement between the two Koreas after tensions reached fever pitch as Pyongyang carried out a series of weapons tests.


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Pyeongchang Winter Olympics 2018

‘We are one people’: North Korean skaters wow in dream Winter Olympics debut at Pyeongchang

Ryom Tae-ok (left) and Kim Ju-sik of North Korea perform during the pairs short programme in the figure skating at the Gangneung Ice Arena. Photo: EPA

Supporters of Ryom Tae Ok and Kim Ju Sik of North Korea cheer, ahead of their performance in the pair figure skating short program in the Gangneung Ice Arena at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea, Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2018. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

epa06522852 Ryom Tae-ok and Kim Ju-sik of North Korea perform during the Pair Short Program in the Figure Skating competition at the Gangneung Ice Arena during the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Games, South Korea, 14 February 2018. EPA-EFE/TATYANA ZENKOVICH

TOPSHOT - North Korea's Ryom Tae Ok (C) and North Korea's Kim Ju Sik react after competing in the pair skating short program of the figure skating event during the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at the Gangneung Ice Arena in Gangneung on February 14, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / ARIS MESSINIS

Arabella Ng still waiting at Winter Olympics as wind causes alpine chaos with Pyeongchang slalom postponed

Stewards adjust a net as winds blow after the alpine skiing women’s slalom was cancelled set to weather. Photo: AFP

epa06523238 Members of the North Korean delegation wave flags as they wait for the start of the Women's Slalom race at the Yongpyong Alpine Centre during the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Games, South Korea, 14 February 2018. The Women's Slalom race is being canceled due to weather conditions EPA-EFE/JEAN-CHRISTOPHE BOTT

epa06522945 Course workers are seen on the track as the Women's Slalom race is being canceled due to weather conditions at the Yongpyong Alpine Centre during the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Games, South Korea, 14 February 2018. EPA-EFE/CHRISTIAN BRUNA

Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics - Opening ceremony - Pyeongchang Olympic Stadium - Pyeongchang, South Korea - February 9, 2018 - Arabella Caroline Yili Ng of Hong Kong carries the national flag during the opening ceremony. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

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Ryom Tae-ok and Kim Ju-sik qualify for pairs final with personal-best score as 200 singing North Korean cheerleaders give their support at Gangneung Ice Arena


‘We are one people’: North Korean skaters wow in dream Winter Olympics debut at Pyeongchang

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Ryom Tae-ok and Kim Ju-sik qualify for pairs final with personal-best score as 200 singing North Korean cheerleaders give their support at Gangneung Ice Arena

Ryom Tae-ok and Kim Ju-sik qualify for pairs final with personal-best score as 200 singing North Korean cheerleaders give their support at Gangneung Ice Arena