Pyongyang’s Shuffle: 5 Things That Unrolled at the Korea Summit
#1 – Sister Act
Yo Jong, Kim Jong Un’s younger sister, joined the South Korean team as a “special envoy” for the Winter Games, but her position didn’t stop at the Olympics. The Kim‑clan’s in‑house strategist is now practically glued to her brother’s side—picture her dancing behind them on the red carpet, almost like a backup dancer that pops out at the last beat.
- During the first Panmunjom talk, she slipped behind Moon and Kim, then suddenly sashayed off the carpet in its own lane.
- When the pair hopped onto the aircraft platform at the Pyongyang airport, she popped into frame just enough that cameras captured her jostling past the leaders and their spouses.
#2 – A Live vs. Repeat TV Show
South Korea blazed every screen with live footage of Moon’s arrival—down to that cheery “Welcome to Pyongyang” montage.
In sharp contrast, the North’s state studio gave something that looked a lot like a television test card: a screen racked with eight static vertical color blocks. No live moments, just an eternal “sock it to me” display.
#3 – Islands, Flags, and Diplomacy in Jeopardy
Northern flags kicked off with a proud silhouette of the peninsula that included the contested Dokdo islands—those tiny spots the South swears are theirs but Japan plods around sofa‑ing them in its claims.
When the same flags showed up in Seoul for the Winter Games, Tokyo’s quick telegram motioned “stop that,” and the hosts rushed out a redesign sans the blue specks.
Later, the KCNA news agency’s angle called Tokyo a “political dwarf,” flinging a dose of sharp rhetoric that Japan’s wartime past will bring a hefty price tag.
#4 – The Sovereignty Shuffle
Both Koreas swear they own the whole land—so each thinks the other is basically a “rogue state.” That’s why they keep all “international” communications in special agencies rather than Foreign Ministries. And a hop from North to South doesn’t even get flagged as a flight—it’s ‘Domestic Departure’ in the boarding slip copy.
#5 – Car Cuddle Strategy
At the airport, the leaders split into separate cars like a high‑budget, spontaneous chauffeur swap. But by the time they drove to the Paekhwawon State Guesthouse—named for “100 Different Flowers Bloom”—they were power‑pooled in the same open‑top ride. Seoul’s press note said the detour was “just a scenic parade” along a street jam‑packed with cheering crowds.
One thing’s clear: Even in a country where each step is measured like a careful choreography, there are still moments of improv that keep the world guessing. And from Yo Jong’s stealthy sub‑car stunts to the baffling black‑and‑white telecast, the summit was a masterclass in subtle theatrics.
