Olympic politics: North Korea's media charm offensive

North Korea's media games and what's really behind the Olympic story of thawing tensions between North and South Korea.

Not every picture tells a story and not every image is worth a thousand words.

But the right one - in the right place, at the right political time - can pack a bigger punch than a hundred soundbites or a million tweets.

An image like the one of athletes from two countries still officially at war - North and South Korea - taking the Olympic stage under one flag at the opening ceremonies of the 2018 Winter Olympics.

"It's a great photo op. It makes for some good pictures. It does sort of bring the sense of potential and the sense of optimism at least briefly for that sports event. But it doesn't necessarily mean unification is around the corner," says Jenny Town, managing editor of 38 North.