Grinning North Korean table tennis players are ‘placed under ideological scrutiny’ and could face punishment after posing for Olympic podium selfie with rivals from South

Two North Korean table tennis stars have been placed under “ideological surveillance” and face disciplinary action after posing for a selfie on the Olympic podium with rivals from the South.

Despite winning silver medals at the Paris Olympics, Kim Kum-yong and Ri Jong-sik have run into trouble at home after celebrating their success in a flash with South Korean athletes Lim Jong-hoon and Shin Yu-bin.

The South Korean mixed doubles players and the North Korean duo were seen beaming on the podium last month after receiving their bronze and silver medals.

One of the images was posted on the official Instagram page of the Games, where it received hundreds of thousands of likes. People magazine named the photo one of the 12 best moments of sportsmanship from the Paris Olympics.

But this week, local North Korean media reported that Kim and Ri are now under “ideological surveillance” for their actions.

The photos have caused a stir in North Korea as the athletes were seen laughing with their rivals

North Korean news site Daily NK quoted a source in Pyongyang as saying that athletes and members of the North Korean Olympic Committee had undergone a month-long “ideological cleansing” since their return on August 15.

This is reportedly standard procedure for athletes who have recently come into contact with life outside the walls of the communist state.

According to the outlet, North Korea considers staying in a non-communist country a form of “exposure to infection.”

Daily NK reported that the country’s athletes had been instructed not to associate with competitors from abroad, including the South, and had been warned that “brothers” could be punished.

The table tennis stars were reportedly criticised in a report submitted to authorities for posing “grinning” on stage next to their rivals from a country described by North Korea as “enemy number one”.

Kim Kum-yong took the selfie with a smile, while Ri Jong-sik grinned at the other athletes after stepping off the podium.

While the interaction is one of the rarest and most celebrated moments on the Olympic stage, it is now under strict surveillance in the isolated country.

North Korean athletes returning from international competitions undergo a three-part ideological assessment, the Korean Times.

The first stage is carried out by the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea, the second by the Ministry of Physical Education and Sports, and finally by the sports team itself.

Kim Kum-yong took the selfie with a smile, while Ri Jong-sik was seen grinning as they showed off their medals on the Olympic podium

One of the images was posted on the Games’ official Instagram page, where it received hundreds of thousands of likes, while People magazine named it one of the 12 greatest moments of sportsmanship from the Paris Olympics.

During the team’s internal evaluation, athletes are expected to criticize the inappropriate behavior of others or publicly reflect on their own actions.

The evaluation will closely examine the athletes’ behavior during the Games. Any deviation from the regime’s values ​​or instructions may lead to disciplinary action.

A senior source told the South Korean newspaper that athletes who interact with foreign competitors, such as by taking selfies, must express deep regret during self-criticism sessions to avoid political or administrative penalties.

According to Human Rights Watch, the reports “demonstrate the North Korean government’s efforts to control behavior beyond its borders.

“The International Olympic Committee… has a responsibility to protect athletes from all forms of intimidation and abuse, as set out in the Olympic Charter,” a statement said.

‘North Korean athletes should not fear retaliation for their actions during the Games, especially since their actions embody the values ​​of respect and friendship on which the Olympic Movement is built.’

It is not clear what sanctions the table tennis stars could potentially face following the selfie.