International Relations

The Winter Olympics is upon us, and sports and politics are currently mixing in Peyongchang, South Korea- Among the geopolitical intrigue of the Olympics is the issue of North Korea, its nuclear program, and an ongoing standoff between le Jung Un and the US and South Korea The North Korean leader, Kim Jung Un, is not present at the games but his regime’s influence is being felt. Using Nye’s conceptions of soft power and the ontological approach of Constructivism, discuss North Korea’s approach to this year’s Olympics. What are the roles played by le Jung Un’s sister and Olympics-related statements coming out of the North? Are the North’s soft power actions effective? Using only large media outlets from the US and South Korea (some are in English), discuss how well Kim Jung Un’s “charm offensive” is working