PARIS – Athletes from North Korea have not received the Samsung smartphones that were given free to all competitors at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, according to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Thursday.
The South Korean electronics company, a top sponsor of the IOC, provided smartphones to all 10,500 athletes participating in the games, which they are allowed to keep when they return home. However, North Korean athletes were excluded from this distribution.
“We can confirm that the athletes of the National Olympic Committee of DPRK have not received the Samsung phones,” an IOC spokesperson stated.
On Thursday, South Korea’s Foreign Ministry highlighted the United Nations sanctions imposed on North Korea. North Korea, formally known as the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), has been subject to U.N. sanctions since 2006 due to its ballistic missile and nuclear programs. These sanctions include bans on products with both civilian and military applications.
“The U.N. Security Council, in accordance with paragraph 7 of Resolution 2397 (2017), prohibits the direct or indirect supply, sale, and transfer of all industrial machinery to North Korea, and smartphones are prohibited items subject to the resolution,” the South Korean Foreign Ministry explained in a statement.
“Our government is continuing to make diplomatic efforts in cooperation with the international community to ensure the thorough implementation of U.N. Security Council resolutions.”
The North Korean team comprises 14 athletes competing in seven sports at the Paris Olympics, according to the Games organizers’ list.