The 23rd Winter Olympics begin in Pyeongchang on Friday and are set to be the coldest in history but NOT FOR THE Koreans as they will be under critical observation

Though none of the North Korean athletes competing at next month’s Winter Olympics in South Korea are expected to win a medal, they will at least be assured of a thunderous reception.

Over 17 days, more than 3,000 of the world’s best athletes will compete in 102 medal events in 15 sports.

Around 77% of tickets have been sold – approximately 826,000 – across the 13 venues in South Korea

More excitement greeted Wednesday’s news that the athletes will be accompanied by 230 members of the “army of beauties”, North Korea’s all-female cheerleading troupe who – international politics permitting – will be dispatched to portray a gentler image of one of the world’s most brutal dictatorships.