North Korean desk tennis silver medalists Ri Jong Sik and Kim Kum Yong, who took selfies with their opponents Lim Jong-hoon and Shin Yu-bin of South Korea on the Paris Olympics, might face disciplinary motion for “smiling” from the rostrum, the New York Submit reported.
Ri Jong Sik and Kim Kum Yong are present process an “ideological evaluation” together with different athletes coming back from the Paris Olympics, The Telegraph reported.
The screening, The Every day NK reviews, is a regular process in North Korea aimed toward eradicating any perceived “contamination” from publicity to international cultures.
Citing unnamed officers in Pyongyang, The Every day NK reported that the athletes have been criticized for “smiling” alongside South Korean athletes, who come from an enemy nation.
The photograph of athletes from nations which can be technically at battle with one another went viral world wide for capturing the sporting spirit and a show of cross-border unity.
The selfie, which additionally options the Chinese language gold medalists, was taken by South Korean participant Lim Jong-hoon. The photograph exhibits the 2 nationwide flags of South Korea. The picture rapidly caught international consideration, with South Korean newspaper JoongAng Ilbo highlighting the symbolism of the picture, which additionally incorporates a Samsung telephone, a product of the South Korean electronics large, and a sponsor of the Olympics.
Nevertheless, North Korean authorities have reportedly issued strict directives to their athletes forward of the video games, explicitly banning them from interacting with South Korean or international athletes. The warning carries an implicit menace of proverbial penalties for any athlete who violates these orders.
