As Paris 2024 nears, ‘godmother’ of North Korean Paralympians champions change | NK News
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October 06, 2026Oct 06, 2026

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As Paris 2024 nears, ‘godmother’ of North Korean Paralympians champions change

In interview, missionary Sue Kinsler recounts her work for people with disabilities across more than 130 visits to DPRK

The world is gearing up for a summer of sports at the 2024 Paris Olympics, but while North Korea is aiming for gold in a number of disciplines, it looks set to be a notable absentee from the upcoming Paralympic Games.

This would mark a setback for the country’s disabled athletes, who first competed at the Paralympics only a decade ago, and it is particularly disappointing for Sue Kinsler, a 78-year-old missionary nicknamed the “godmother of North Korean disabled athletes” for her work in a country where persons with disabilities are often deprived of opportunities.

In an interview with NK