North Korean athletes who took selfies with South Korean athletes at the Paris Olympics may face punishment, as reports suggest they are currently undergoing ideological scrutiny in Pyongyang.
On Aug. 21, Daily NK reported, citing a high-level source in Pyongyang, that the North Korean Olympic Committee delegation and athletes have been undergoing ideological evaluations since their return on August 15. Athletes competing in international events are subjected to a three-stage ideological assessment process lasting about a month, involving the Central Party, the Ministry of Sports, and an internal review. The North Korean regime views international exposure as a potential encounter with “non-socialist” culture, which it considers a form of “contamination.” A Daily NK source stated, “The assessment begins the moment athletes return, with the goal of ‘cleansing’ their thoughts as quickly as possible.”
The ongoing assessment in Pyongyang is led by the Central Party, which scrutinizes every aspect of the athletes’ conduct from departure to return. If any behavior contradicting the Party’s directives or educational objectives is detected during the Olympics, the athletes could face disciplinary actions.
Before leaving for the Olympics, North Korean athletes were reportedly given “special instructions” not to interact with South Korean or other foreign athletes. Any confirmed violations of this directive could lead to repercussions.
During the Olympics, all medal-winning athletes took “victory selfies” with Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 6 Olympic Edition. Images surfaced of North Korean athletes posing for selfies with South Korean and Chinese athletes, prompting negative evaluations submitted to the Party.
In particular, Ri Jong-sik and Kim Kum-yong, who won silver in mixed doubles table tennis, were noted for taking selfies with South Korea’s bronze medalists, Lim Jong-hoon and Shin Yu-bin, as well as with China’s gold medalists, Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha. While international media celebrated this moment as one of the top 10 news stories of the Olympics, it may lead to consequences in North Korea.
According to Daily NK sources, the report on these athletes criticized them for “grinning” next to South Korean athletes, who are viewed as primary adversaries by the authorities. Kim Kum-yong was specifically noted for smiling during the selfie, while Ri Jong-sik faced criticism for smiling as he observed athletes from other countries after stepping off the podium.
Daily NK indicated uncertainty about whether North Korean authorities will impose penalties or address the situation with warnings or lighter critiques such as self-reflection. A Daily NK source explained, “If they interacted with athletes from other countries, they must strongly reflect on their actions to avoid potential political or administrative punishment.”
