Mr. Kim, the father of the current leader, made her a “hero of the republic,” the highest honor in the country, for lifting the morale of his people still, in the grip of a devastating famine. (Defectors from the North later relayed a different story: Ms. Jong, sent to Spain as a pacemaker for another North Korean runner, ran for the life of her father, who was in prison.)

This year, Kim Jong-un has no athlete who can glorify him as Ms. Jong did his father.

North Korea has won only two medals in the Winter Olympics, a silver in speedskating in 1964 and a bronze in short-track speedskating in 1992. The International Olympic Committee granted the 22 North Koreans at the current games last-minute exemptions to compete in five sports in Pyeongchang, including a dozen who joined the South Korean women’s ice hockey squad to create the first inter-Korean Olympic team ever. None is expected to stand on a medal podium.

But Mr. Kim had quite a different goal for the Olympics, analysts said.

When he used his New Year’s Day speech to propose sending North Korean athletes to the Olympics, it was clear that his interest was not in Olympic golds but in creating a political détente so he could weaken international sanctions imposed on his country. At home, he described his decision as an act of magnanimity.

South Koreans “are so grateful to us for giving a helping hand to their Winter Games, which were at the risk of becoming the least popular Olympics in history because of the political situation,” the North’s official newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, said last month.

South Korea has repeatedly urged North Korea to join the Olympics, hoping that its participation would help ease tensions and help make the games a success. That created an opening for Mr. Kim to engage in what critics called a “charm offensive.”

Mr. Kim sent hundreds of cheerleaders, musicians and singers to the Games to supplement his meager sports contingent. They stole much of the show on the sidelines of the games. He also sent the most unusual Olympic guest: his sister, whose visit to the South, including meetings with President Moon Jae-in, created a media frenzy. Ms. Kim delivered her brother’s invitation for Mr. Moon to visit the North for a summit meeting, raising hopes for a détente, as Mr. Kim intended.