North Korea’s first bona fide chance to qualify athletes for the PyeongChang Winter Olympics is this week.
Pairs figure skaters Ryom Tae Ok and Kim Ju Sik compete at Nebelhorn Trophy in Germany, the final Olympic qualifying event for the sport.
Ryom and Kim must finish in the top four among pairs from nations not already qualified for the Olympics. Based on scores from the last year, they are favored to do so.
Their choreographer, Canadian Julie Marcotte, agrees.
“That’s all that matters to them right now is to qualify for the Olympics,” she said.