North Korean Athletes Denied Samsung Phones at Olympics

North Korean athletes at the 2024 Paris Olympics did not receive Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6 smartphones, which were given to other athletes, due to concerns about violating U.N. sanctions. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) initially stated the phones had been picked up by North Korea's delegation but later confirmed this was not the case. U.N. Security Council Resolution 2397 prohibits the transfer of industrial machinery, including smartphones, to North Korea. South Korean officials emphasized the importance of adhering to these sanctions to prevent prohibited items from entering North Korea. The incident mirrors a similar situation from the 2018 Winter Olympics. The whereabouts of the intended smartphones remain unclear.