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Two North Korean athletes could face punishment from the totalitarian state for taking a selfie with South Koreans at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, in what is described as "ideological scrutiny" over "inappropriate behavior."
The Games in Paris could have shown an image of the Olympic Spirit persevering between North and South Korea to momentarily set their differences aside, but it may end with a sanction for some of its athletes.
Mixed doubles tennis players Kim Kum-yong and Ri Jong-sik smiled as they posed for a 'selfie' on the podium after receiving their bronze and silver medals alongside South Korea's Lim Jong-hoon and Shin Yu-bin.
It's a memorable photo that also included the Olympic champions, China's Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha on the all East Asian podium that went viral online, with TIME magazine including it as one of the 12 best moments of sportsmanship at the Games.
However, now the North Korean stars face a sanction for participating in that selfie and claim they are subject to "ideological scrutiny", a process that must be experienced by athletes exposed to life outside the totalitarian state.
They could suffer "political or istrative punishment" if they do not "reflect" on their own actions for the seemingly harmless selfie on the day of triumphant for the athletes and for the nation in a disappointing change of tempo by Kim Jong Un's country.
How is North Korea totalitarian?
North Korea possesses absolute control over nearly all aspects of life of the citizens born in the Asian country, which borders China to the north and South Korea to the... South.
The government, led by the Kim family dynasty, maintains a rigid cult of personality around its leaders and exerts strict control over the media, suppresses political dissent, and limits citizens' freedoms, including speech, movement, and religion.
The state enforces loyalty through fear, with harsh punishments for those perceived as disloyal, whilst a pervasive surveillance system monitors the population, ensuring compliance with the regime's directives.
With power concentrated in the hands of the Kim family dynasty, North Korea is not a democracy but is a single-party system led by the Workers' Party of Korea despite hosting elections.
In these elections, only one candidate per district, approved by the party, is on the ballot meaning there is no other choice but to vote for that candidate.