The provision of Samsung smartphones to North Korean Olympic athletes in Paris is subject to a possible violation of U.N. Security Council (UNSC) resolutions banning the North’s access to industrial equipment, Seoul officials said Thursday.
Samsung Electronics, an Olympic partner, has distributed the Olympic edition of its latest Galaxy Z Flip 6 smartphones to all athletes participating in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
Citing the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Radio Free Asia, a U.S. media outlet, reported the National Olympic Committee of North Korea has received the Samsung smartphones for its athletes. It said whether the North distributed the phones to its athletes has not been confirmed.
“The UNSC bans, under Article 7 of Resolution 2397, direct or indirect supply, sale or transfer to North Korea of all industrial machinery,” foreign ministry spokesperson Lee Jae-woong said in a press briefing. “Smartphones are considered prohibited items under this resolution.”
Resolution 2397, adopted
in December 2017 in the wake of the North’s launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile, bans North Korea from procuring, selling or moving machines, vehicles, and other metal items that can be diverted for military use.
North Korea is banned under multiple UNSC resolutions from obtaining technologies to develop its nuclear and missile programs.
But Lee said for this case to not end up in violation of UNSC resolutions, it is important to ensure that the prohibited items are not brought into North Korea.
“The government is making diplomatic efforts in coordination with the international community to make sure the UNSC resolutions are thoroughly implemented,” he added.
Lee’s comments suggest that South Korea is in talks with the IOC and France about taking steps to prevent the athletes from taking the smartphones home with them.
“It’s true that we’re taking measures. We’re communicating with relevant authorities,” a foreign ministry official told reporters on condition of anonymity.
The relevant autho
rities are reportedly not considering taking action to allow a sanctions exception for the provision of smartphones.
In the PyeongChang Olympics in 2018, North Korea refused to receive Samsung smartphones as the organizer of the Winter Games offered to provide them under the condition that North Korean athletes return the phones before heading home.
Source : Yonhap News Agency