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The other big hit at the Winter Olympics: North Korea's cheerleaders

There are 229 of them. They have been dubbed 'The Army of Beauties'
The other big hit
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The other big hit

Apart from Kim Yo-Jong, North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un's sister, the other big hit of the Winter Olympics have been the North Korean cheerleaders.
'Army of Beauties'
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'Army of Beauties'

There are 229 of them. They have been dubbed the 'Army of Beauties'.

The cheering squad, all in their late teens or early 20s, are said to be handpicked from elite universities and undergo strict background checks.

Their most famous alumna is Ri Sol Ju, better known these days as the First Lady of North Korea.
Lal Salaam
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Lal Salaam

In photo: The North Korean cheerleaders perform at Ojukheon House, one of the oldest traditional Korean houses in South Korea, in Gangneung on February 13, 2018. They drew a large crowd.
Step Up Revolution
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Step Up Revolution

The cheerleaders perform during the women's ice hockey match between a Unified Korea team and Switzerland.
Great off the ice, not on it
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Great off the ice, not on it

The cheerleaders were a hit. The Unified Korea team was not. They lost 0-8 to Switzerland.
A second drubbing
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A second drubbing

They also lost 0-8 to Sweden, and found themselves out of the Olympics.
No, they're not North Koreans
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No, they're not North Koreans

In photo: South Korean cheerleaders perform during the women's ice hockey match between Sweden and the Unified Korea team.