South Korean officials have raised concerns that the Samsung smartphones provided to North Korean athletes at the Paris Olympics may breach U.N. Security Council sanctions. These sanctions are in place due to North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs.
Samsung, a significant Olympic partner, has been distributing its latest Galaxy Z Flip 6 smartphones to all athletes participating in the Paris Games. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) confirmed that these phones were given to the North Korean athletes upon their arrival at the Olympic village. However, the fate of these devices thereafter remains unclear, with the IOC not providing further details.
North Korea athletes have not received Samsung smartphones at Paris Games – IOC https://t.co/TsR3G0qUGe pic.twitter.com/ANSvHIctvP
— Reuters (@Reuters) August 8, 2024
According to South Korea’s Foreign Ministry, smartphones are categorized under the items banned by Security Council Resolution 2397, enacted in 2017. This resolution prohibits the supply, sale, or transfer of “all industrial machinery” to North Korea. The resolution does not differentiate between North Korea’s government and its citizens, meaning the smartphones would be banned regardless of how they entered the country.
Lee Jaewoong, a spokesperson for the ministry, emphasized the importance of preventing these prohibited items from reaching North Korea. He mentioned that the South Korean government is making “necessary diplomatic efforts” to ensure compliance with the sanctions but did not elaborate on the specifics of these efforts.
A similar issue occurred during the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea, where North Korean athletes declined to accept Samsung devices, offered under the condition that they be returned before leaving the country. This decision was made to comply with the sanctions in place.
Those Samsung smartphones given to Olympic athletes? They may violate sanctions on North Korea https://t.co/Vv1luj8fik
— CTV Saskatoon (@ctvsaskatoon) August 8, 2024
North Korea has sent 16 athletes to the Paris Games, competing in various sports, including wrestling, swimming, table tennis, and boxing. The country did not participate in the 2020 Summer Games in Tokyo, held in 2021, due to a self-imposed lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic. Consequently, the IOC barred North Korea from participating in the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing as a penalty for their absence in Tokyo.
Key Points:
i. Sanctions Concern: South Korea warns that providing Samsung smartphones to North Korean athletes at the Paris Olympics violates U.N. sanctions.
ii. Samsung Distribution: Samsung is giving Galaxy Z Flip 6 smartphones to all athletes, including North Koreans.
iii. Sanction Details: U.N. Resolution 2397 bans the transfer of industrial machinery, including smartphones, to North Korea.
iv. Diplomatic Efforts: South Korea is making diplomatic efforts to prevent the prohibited items from entering North Korea.
v. Historical Context: North Korean athletes previously refused Samsung devices at the 2018 Winter Olympics to comply with sanctions.
James Kravitz – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News
