North Korean Olympic medallists may face action for 'grinning' in selfie: Reports

Ri Jong Sik and Kim Kum Yong are undergoing "ideological evaluation" along with other athletes who returned from the Paris Olympics

The North Korean table tennis silver medallists Ri Jong Sik and Kim Kum Yong, who clicked selfies with their opponents Lim Jong-hoon and Shin Yu-bin from South Korea at the Paris Olympics, could face disciplinary actions for "grinning" from the podium, New York Post reported.

Ri Jong Sik and Kim Kum Yong are undergoing "ideological evaluation" along with other athletes who returned from the Paris Olympics, The Telegraph reported.

Referring to the unnamed officials in Pyongyang, The Daily NK reported that the athletes have been lambasted for "grinning" next to South Korean athletes, who hail from an enemy country.

The selfie, which also included the Chinese gold medalists, was clicked by South Korean player Lim Jong-hoon. The photo features both Korean national flags. The image quickly grabbed global attention, with South Korean newspaper JoongAng Ilbo highlighting the symbolism of the image, which also featured a Samsung phone, a product of the South Korean electronics giant, and an Olympics sponsor.