MOSCOW, August 8 North Korean athletes did not receive the exclusive smartphones that are presented to all participants in the Paris Olympic Games, Yonhap news agency reported, citing a statement from the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
The foldable Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 models in a gold-plated case with an image of the Olympic rings were in the welcome kit for athletes in the Olympic Village. A total of 17,000 smartphones were produced.
«We can confirm that the DPRK NOC athletes did not receive Samsung phones,» the IOC said.
South Korean Foreign Ministry spokesman Lee Jae-woong said that providing smartphones to North Korean Olympians could violate a UN Security Council resolution that prohibits North Korea's access to industrial equipment.
«Article 7 of UN Security Council Resolution 2397 prohibits the direct or indirect supply, sale, or transfer of any industrial equipment to the DPRK. Smartphones are considered prohibited items under the resolution,» Lee Jae-woong said.
Earlier, athletes from South Korea and the DPRK took a joint selfie on the podium of the Olympic table tennis tournament in Paris.
14 athletes from the DPRK were declared for the Olympic Games in Paris.