NK Olympic Coverage

[Anchor Lead]

North Korea too is getting into the Olympic fervor with concentrated coverage of its promising athletes. Analysts say this is a move to strengthen internal unity in the face of international sanctions on Pyongyang.

[Pkg]

Athletes with medals hanging from their necks are greeted by welcoming applause from throngs of people at Pyongyang Station. They are the North Korean national weightlifting team, including Lim Eun-sim who won a gold medal at the women's 63kg event in the recent International Youth Weightlifting Championships with a berth in the Rio Olympics on the line.

[Soundbite] Lim Eun-sim(North Korean weightlifter) : "I will continue to train hard and win a gold medal to honor my country."

A series of international table tennis matches was recently aired featuring North Korean athletes such as Ri Myong-soon, who is considered a contender to win a medal in Rio. A documentary showing North Korean athletes winning medals in international competitions and footage of a Pyongyang sports supplies factory are aired every day. Analysts say that North Korea has launched efforts to heighten the Olympic atmosphere as a way to strengthen internal unity in the face of international sanctions. So far, North Korea has confirmed 36 athletes to participate in Rio in nine categories including judo. It appears that the regime will attempt to promote the achievements of Kim Jong-un through medals won in Rio, following its second best ever results in the Olympics at the London Games.