The selfie gained attention around the world as the highlight of the Olympic table tennis games – but not in North Korea.
North Korean table tennis couple Ri Jong-Sik and Kim Kum-Yong can be fined for taking a selfie on the podium at the Paris Olympics.
Jong-Sik and Kum-Yong won silver in the mixed table tennis competition and then posed for a selfie with their Chinese and South Korean competitors.
The selfie gained attention around the world as the highlight of the Olympic table tennis games – but not in North Korea.
According to the Daily NK newspaper, the North Korean table tennis couple is threatened with punishment. The newspaper says that when they return home, all North Koreans competing internationally will be judged based on how they behave abroad.
Smiling and taking selfies with competitors who are from South Korea – which is North Korea’s number one enemy – crosses the line.
According to the magazine, athletes who have behaved badly abroad from North Korea’s point of view have previously been punished with several months of unpaid community service.
Daily NK is based in South Korea and reports on the events of the closed neighboring country using its source information.