Even before being name-checked in Bush's Axis Of Evil speech, North Korea had some serious public relations problems. And they are tackling those problems with a classic public relations cure, pretty girls. Let's hear it for the North Korean Cheersquad!!!

South Korea is hosting a series of athletic events that are serving as qualifying matches for next year's Olympic Games. Apparently the cheerleaders were first deployed at some multi-national games held in Busan in 2002. Security is tight, keeping the women away from foreigners although young men have been flying paper airplanes into the cheerleader's section of the grandstands, according to the New York Times.

"Our papers say, `Come talk with us, have a cup of coffee with us, come walk in the park with us,' " said Kang In Ku, organizer of a group called Young Patriots. It is unclear what success the group will have with its come-on line: "Stop being concubines of Kim Jong Il. Come to the arms of freedom."