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North Korean Olympic silver medalists likely to face punishment for selfie with South Korean athletes
At the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, North Korean table tennis competitors Kim Kum-Yong and Ri Jong-Sik achieved a remarkable feat by securing a silver medal in the mixed doubles event.
The Paris 2024 Olympics selfie that went viral featuring North Korea's Table Tennis mixed category duo and their South Korean and Chinese counterparts. Photo Credit: AP
At the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, North Korean table tennis competitors Kim Kum-Yong and Ri Jong-Sik achieved a remarkable feat by securing a silver medal in the mixed doubles event.
Their accomplishment was further magnified by the historic selfie they took alongside their South Korean counterparts, Lim Jong-Hoon and Shin Yubin, alongside Chinese athletes Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha. This pose, representative of unity and sportsmanship, was widely publicised and became emblematic of the modern Olympic spirit.
However, following their return home, it has been reported that the two athletes are facing severe criticism for this seemingly innocuous act, which has elicited serious ideological scrutiny by North Korean authorities.
Upon finishing second, Kim and Ri’s celebratory image at the medal presentation ignited both admiration and consternation within North Korea. According to reports from Daily NK, officials in Pyongyang have indicated disapproval regarding the athletes’ evident enjoyment in proximity to representatives from South Korea, a nation that the North refers to as its principal adversary. The extensive international media coverage of this moment has exacerbated the situation, subjecting the athletes to a mandatory ideological review upon their return.
This ideological review is a systematic investigation practised in North Korea for athletes re-entering the country after competing in non-communist environments. The assessment comprises three distinct stages, aimed at evaluating any ideological ‘contamination’ experienced abroad and ensuring the athletes align with the state’s principles. The review process, as described in interviews with unnamed sources by Daily NK, commences immediately upon their return and necessitates the athletes to undergo a rigorous ‘scrubbing’ of their beliefs to purify their ideology, as dictated by the regime.
During this tripartite evaluation, athletes are expected to acknowledge any perceived misconduct stemming from their interactions with foreign athletes. Failure to comply with this expectation could result in severe political and legal reprisals.
In light of these developments, Human Rights Watch has voiced concerns regarding the treatment of North Korean athletes, urging the International Olympic Committee to intervene on their behalf. They emphasised that the Olympic Charter mandates the protection of athletes from any form of harassment or abuse, stressing that North Korean competitors should not be subjected to negative repercussions for actions that exemplify the core values of friendship and respect associated with the Olympic movem
