The North Korean Olympic team has five medals at the Paris Olympics. However, they'll leave without new smartphones.
The International Olympic Committee announced North Korea's athletes won't get complimentary Samsung smartphones. These were given to all other teams in Paris.
Samsung, a South Korean sponsor, provided 10,500 new phones to this year's Olympians. The model, Galaxy Z Flip6, has a foldable screen, unlike any iPhone.
But, South Korea's Foreign Ministry said giving these smartphones to North Korean athletes could violate U.N. sanctions. These sanctions relate to Pyongyang's weapons program.
"The U.N. Security Council prohibits the supply, sale, and transfer of all industrial machinery to North Korea," the Ministry stated. "Smartphones are prohibited items under Resolution 2397 (2017)."
North Korea has faced U.N. sanctions for its missile and nuclear programs since 2006. These sanctions have tightened over the years.
Recently, North Korea's military boasted about weapon advancements. The North Korean Central News Agency reported a test of the Hwasongpho-11 Da-4.5 missile in July.
South Korea responded by announcing "Star Wars" laser defense systems. "Our country is the first to deploy and operate laser weapons," stated the Defense Acquisition Program Administration.
Similar incidents with Samsung have happened before. At the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics, North Koreans refused Samsung devices unless they returned them before leaving.
North Korea has 14 athletes in the Paris Olympics. They won silver in mixed doubles table tennis and women's synchronized 10-meter platform diving.