In Ben  Hur, once the hero and his fellow slaves have been chained to their oars, Quintus Arrius, the galley master, gives them a pep talk. “Now listen to me, all of you. You are all condemned men. We keep you alive to serve this ship. So row well, and live.”

Watching the North Korean Olympic cheerleaders flawlessly perform their robot-like routines and cheer like frenzied lunatics before, during and after their hockey team was crushed 8 – 0 by Switzerland, I was reminded of Arrius’ words. How well they translate from the ancient Roman tyranny to today’s communist hellhole which is North Korea. To update and paraphrase, “You are all condemned women. We keep you and your families back home alive to serve the State. So cheer well, and live…maybe.”

This is the true horror hidden behind those smiling masks. They clap, they sing, they move in unison. Or else. It’s like watching dancing bears perform. But at least the bears were trained with only whips and cattle prods. The mind recoils from the full range of physical and psychological pressures used to motivate these young women.

Nevertheless, our media have gushingly declared North Korea the winner of the Olympics “charm offensive”. Leading the North Korean Olympic delegation is Kim Yo-jong, director of state security and sister of Dear Leader Kim Jong-un. The Washington Post has fawningly and favorably compared her to Ivanka Trump. According to the Post, those attending the Games have “marveled at her barely-there makeup and her lack of bling. They commented on her plain black outfits and simple purse. They noted the flower-shaped clip that kept her hair back in a no-nonsense style.”

Not to be outdone, CNN headlined that she “is stealing the show at the Winter Olympics.”

No comment yet on the absence of Dear Leader’s half brother. He couldn’t attend because Dear Leader had him murdered. But, if he had been able to come, I am sure he would have been dressed in a no-nonsense style.

All of this makes me wonder. How would these media geniuses have covered the 1936 Berlin Olympics? Quite possibly something along the lines of “Well, Katie, those SS men may be stern, but they certainly are sharp dressers!”

We live in an age when, for far too many people, image has become reality. A demonic regime that is on the verge of obtaining nuclear weapons and intercontinental ballistic missiles has put on a smiley face, and we are supposed to be reassured because the head of their Gestapo lacks bling and their Stepford cheerleaders never miss a cue.

And our shallow media are more than happy to promote the sham. After all, to peek behind the façade might not be good for ratings or circulation.