Despite their five medals at the Paris Olympics, North Korean athletes will not be receiving the complimentary Samsung smartphones gifted to all other teams due to UN sanctions prohibiting the supply of industrial machinery to the country.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced on Thursday that North朝鮮's athletes will be the only Olympians in Paris not to receive complimentary Samsung smartphones, a privilege extended to all other teams. Samsung, a South Korean sponsor of the Olympics, had announced it would be providing 10,500 new phones to this year's competitors, including the Galaxy Z Flip6 with its foldable screen.
North Korea's Olympics Exclusion: Denied Samsung Smartphones Amidst UN Sanctions
However, the South Korean Foreign Ministry intervened, citing UN Security Council Resolution 2397 (2017), which prohibits the direct or indirect supply, sale, and transfer of industrial machinery to North Korea, including smartphones. The ministry emphasized its commitment to ensuring the thorough implementation of UN resolutions through diplomatic efforts with the international community.
North Korea has been under UN sanctions for its ballistic missile and nuclear programs since 2006, facing increasingly stringent measures over the years. Pyongyang's military recently boasted about advancements in its weaponry, including the Hwasongpho-11 Da-4.5 missile, capable of carrying a 4.5-ton warhead. In response, South Korea announced its development of "Star Wars" laser defense systems as countermeasures.
North Korea's Olympics Exclusion: Denied Samsung Smartphones Amidst UN Sanctions
Tensions between the two countries have led to similar incidents involving Samsung in the past. At the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics, North Koreans refused to receive Samsung devices offered by the organizing committee, with the condition that they be returned before the team's departure.
North Korea currently has 14 athletes participating in the Paris Olympics, securing medals in mixed doubles table tennis and women's synchronized 10-meter platform diving. The country's exclusion from the Samsung smartphone distribution reflects the ongoing geopolitical tensions and the impact of UN sanctions on North Korea's economy and technology access.
North Korea's Olympics Exclusion: Denied Samsung Smartphones Amidst UN Sanctions
Despite their athletic achievements, North Korean athletes will return home empty-handed when it comes to the latest Samsung devices, as the country remains subject to stringent international sanctions aimed at curbing its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
