North Korea cheerleaders are set to be the talk of the town at the 2018 Winter Olympics after the hermit state announced it would be participating in the games.
The cheerleaders rarely perform outside of the country with the squad being last deployed at least 10 years ago.
Among its squad's alumni is the mysterious and little-seen Ri Sol-ju, who is now married to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
But how does the country choose this elite group of supporters to be the face of North Korea?
The South’s head of the Inter-Korean Athletic Exchange Association, Kim Gyeong-sung, told The Korea Times the women were usually in their 20s, good-looking and devotees of the North's regime.
Ms Ri was one of the younger members at the age of 16, according to China Radio International.
Recruits also have to be from a good family, and be willing to dedicate their time to large amounts of practicing cheers and singing.
After the Koreas met for the first time in two years, the North's officials said their delegation for 2018 Winter Olympics would include athletes, high-ranking officials and a cheering squad.
Among its squad’s alumni is the mysterious and little-seen Ri Sol-ju, who is now married to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Source: AAP
Dubbed as the "cheering squad of beauty" by South Korean media, the North rolling out their team of cheerleaders will improve the country's image on the world stage.
Previously their presence has been well-received. The squad was a huge attraction in South Korea with their tightly choreographed gymnastic routines.
With the nuclear threat hanging over North Korea, the cheerleaders may lighten the political mood at the 2018 Olympics.
In 2014, North Korea had intended to send its squad to the Asian Games with the country saying at the time it would "create an atmosphere" of reconciliation.
"Our sincere decision this time will melt the frozen North-South relations with the heat of national reconciliation while displaying the entire Korean people's will of unification in and outside (of the peninsula)," a statement read, according to the BBC.
But its 2014 squad did not end up going after North Korea rescinded the deployment upon disagreeing with the South over expenses and a number of other issues.
