North Korea is sending its cheer squad to the Winter Olympics - meet the group of young, highly-vetted, and patriotic women behind it

Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images

Members of North Korea's cheer squad support their country at a volleyball match against Denmark in Daegu, South Korea, in 2003.

North Korea is preparing to send hundreds of people to the Winter Olympics in South Korea in February after a major diplomatic breakthrough - including its famous cheerleading squad.

The country is expected to send about 450 people to Pyeongchang next month, among them the elite, highly-vetted, patriotic, all-female members of its cheer squad.

Learn more about North Korea's cheer squad through these old photos of them.