North Korea at the Olympics

Sporting event delegation

North Korea at the
Olympics

IOC code| PRK
NOC| Olympic Committee of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea
Medals
Ranked 50th|

Gold

Silver

Bronze

Total

Summer appearances

* 1972
* 1976
* 1980
* 1984–1988
* 1992
* 1996
* 2000
* 2004
* 2008
* 2012
* 2016
* 2020
* 2024

Winter appearances

* 1964
* 1968
* 1972
* 1976–1980
* 1984
* 1988
* 1992
* 1994
* 1998
* 2002
* 2006
* 2010
* 2014
* 2018
* 2022
* 2026
* 2030

Other related appearances
Korea (2018)
North Koreans head for lodging at the Rio 2016 Olympic Village.

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (commonly known as North Korea) first participated at the Olympic Games in 1964. The National Olympic Committee for North Korea is the Olympic Committee of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, and was created in 1953 and recognized in 1957.

## History

[edit]

North Korea's first Olympic appearance was in the 1964 Winter Olympics at Innsbruck, Austria. The nation participated in its first Summer Olympic Games eight years later at the 1972 Munich Olympics. Since then, the nation has appeared in every Summer Games, except when North Korea joined the Soviet-led boycott of the 1984 Summer Olympics, when they boycotted the 1988 Games in Seoul, South Korea, and in 2020, citing COVID-19 concerns.[1]

North Korea's attendance at the Winter Games has been sporadic; eight of the last thirteen Games have included a North Korean team.

During the 1998-2007 Sunshine Policy era, North Korea and South Korea symbolically marched as one team at the opening ceremonies of the 2000,[2] 2004, and 2006 Olympics, but competed separately.

North Korea sent 22 athletes to compete in five sports at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. As in 2000 and 2004, North and South Korean athletes marched together at the opening ceremonies. A unified women's ice hockey team included players from both North and South Korea. North Korean athletes also competed in alpine skiing, figure skating, short track speed skating and cross-country skiing.[3]

Alongside the 22 athletes, North Korea sent a delegation of 400 supporters to the 2018 games. This delegation, led by North Korea's ceremonial head of state Kim Yong-nam, included cheerleaders, taekwondo practitioners and an orchestra.[4]

North Korean athletes have won a total of 63 medals, two of which were won at the Winter Games. Government funding plays a major role in Korea's success. Elite athletes often enjoy highly developed facilities and luxurious lifestyles, compared with their peers.[1]

In 2018, the United Nations, due to conflicts, rejected an exemption to sanctions for sporting equipment to help athletes prepare for the 2020 Summer Olympics being sent to North Korea.[5]

On 6 April 2021, North Korea announced it would not participate in the 2020 Summer Olympics due to COVID-19 concerns.[6] Because the Olympic Charter mandates members' participation, the International Olympic Committee suspended North Korea from its activities until the end of 2022, thus prohibiting the country from participating in the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.[7]

## Medal tables

[edit]

See also: All-time Olympic Games medal table

### Medals by Summer Games

[edit]

Games  | Athletes  | Gold  | Silver  | Bronze  | Total  | Rank

|
|
|
|
|
|

1932–1936 | occupied by  Japan (JPN)
1972 Munich | 37 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 22
1976 Montreal | 38 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 21
1980 Moscow | 57 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 26
1984 Los Angeles | did not participate
1988 Seoul
1992 Barcelona | 64 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 9 | 16
1996 Atlanta | 24 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 33
2000 Sydney | 31 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 60
2004 Athens | 36 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 57
2008 Beijing | 63 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 34
2012 London | 51 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 20
2016 Rio de Janeiro | 31 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 34
2020 Tokyo | did not participate
2024 Paris | 16 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 68
2028 Los Angeles | future event
2032 Brisbane
Total | 16 | 18 | 27 | 61 | 47

### Medals by Winter Games

[edit]

Games  | Athletes  | Gold  | Silver  | Bronze  | Total  | Rank

|
|
|
|
|
|

1964 Innsbruck | 13 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 13
1968 Grenoble | did not participate
1972 Sapporo | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -
1976 Innsbruck | did not participate
1980 Lake Placid
1984 Sarajevo | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -
1988 Calgary | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -
1992 Albertville | 20 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 19
1994 Lillehammer | did not participate
1998 Nagano | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -
2002 Salt Lake City | did not participate
2006 Turin | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -
2010 Vancouver | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -
2014 Sochi | did not participate
2018 Pyeongchang | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -
2022 Beijing | did not participate (suspended)
2026 Milano Cortina | future event
Total | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 45

### Medals by summer sport

[edit]

Sport| Gold| Silver| Bronze| Total

|
|
|
|

Weightlifting| 5| 8| 5| 18
Wrestling| 3| 2| 5| 10
Gymnastics| 3| 0| 0| 3
Boxing| 2| 3| 3| 8
Judo| 2| 2| 4| 8
Shooting| 1| 0| 2| 3
Table tennis| 0| 2| 3| 5
Diving| 0| 1| 1| 2
Volleyball| 0| 0| 1| 1
Totals (9 entries)| 16| 18| 24| 58

### Medals by winter sport

[edit]

Sport| Gold| Silver| Bronze| Total

|
|
|
|

Speed skating| 0| 1| 0| 1
Short track speed skating| 0| 0| 1| 1
Totals (2 entries)| 0| 1| 1| 2

## List of medalists

[edit]

### Summer Olympics

[edit]

Games  | Medal  | Name  | Sport  | Event

|
|
|
|

1972 Munich |  Gold | Ri Ho-jun |  Shooting | Mixed 50 metre rifle, prone
Silver | Kim U-gil |  Boxing | Men's light flyweight
Bronze | Kim Yong-ik |  Judo | Men's 63 kg
Ri Chun-ok
Kim Myong-suk
Kim Zung-bok
Kang Ok-sun
Kim Yeun-ja
Hwang He-suk
Jang Ok-rim
Paek Myong-suk
Ryom Chun-ja
Kim Su-dae
Jong Ok-jin |  Volleyball | Women's tournament
Kim Gwong-hyong |  Wrestling | Men's freestyle 52 kg
1976 Montreal |  Gold | Gu Yong-ju |  Boxing | Men's bantamweight
Silver | Ri Byong-uk | Men's light flyweight
1980 Moscow |  Silver | Jang Se-hong |  Wrestling | Men's freestyle 48 kg
Li Ho-pyong | Men's freestyle 57 kg
Ho Bong-chol  |  Weightlifting | Men's 52 kg
Bronze | Han Gyong-si  | Men's 52 kg
Ri Byong-uk |  Boxing | Men's light flyweight
1992 Barcelona |  Gold | Choi Chol-su |  Boxing | Men's flyweight
Pae Gil-su |  Gymnastics | Men's pommel horse
Kim Il |  Wrestling | Men's freestyle 48 kg
Ri Hak-son | Men's freestyle 52 kg
Bronze | Kim Yong-sik | Men's freestyle 57 kg
Ri Gwang-sik |  Boxing | Men's bantamweight
Ri Pun-hui
Yu Sun-bok |  Table tennis | Women's doubles
Ri Pun-hui | Women's singles
Kim Myong-nam  |  Weightlifting | Men's 75 kg
1996 Atlanta |  Gold | Kye Sun-hui |  Judo | Women's 48 kg
Kim Il |  Wrestling | Men's freestyle 48 kg
Silver | Kim Myong-nam |  Weightlifting | Men's 70 kg
Bronze | Jon Chol-ho  | Men's 76 kg
Ri Yong-sam |  Wrestling | Men's freestyle 57 kg
2000 Sydney |  Silver | Ri Song-hui |  Weightlifting | Women's 58 kg
Bronze | Kim Un-chol |  Boxing | Men's light flyweight
Kye Sun-hui |  Judo | Women's 52 kg
Kang Yong-gyun |  Wrestling | Men's Greco-Roman 54 kg
2004 Athens |  Silver | Kim Song-guk |  Boxing | Men's featherweight
Kye Sun-hui |  Judo | Women's lightweight
Kim Hyang-mi |  Table tennis | Women's singles
Ri Song-Hui |  Weightlifting | Women's 58 kg
Bronze | Kim Jong-su |  Shooting | Men's 50 metre pistol
2008 Beijing |  Gold | Hong Un-jong |  Gymnastics | Women's vault
Pak Hyon-suk |  Weightlifting | Women's 63 kg
Silver | O Jong-ae | Women's 58 kg
An Kum-ae |  Judo | Women's lightweight
Bronze | Pak Chol-min | Men's lightweight
Won Ok-im | Women's lightweight
2012 London |  Gold | An Kum-ae |  Judo | Women's 52 kg
Om Yun-chol |  Weightlifting | Men's 56 kg
Kim Un-guk | Men's 62 kg
Rim Jong-sim | Women's 69 kg
Bronze | Ryang Chun-hwa | Women's 48 kg
Kim Myong-hyok | Men's 69 kg
Yang Kyong-il |  Wrestling | Men's freestyle 55 kg
2016 Rio de Janeiro |  Gold | Ri Se-gwang |  Gymnastics | Men's vault
Rim Jong-sim |  Weightlifting | Women's 75 kg
Silver | Om Yun-chol | Men's 56 kg
Choe Hyo-sim | Women's 63 kg
Kim Kuk-hyang | Women's +75 kg
Bronze | Kim Song-guk |  Shooting | Men's 50 m pistol
Kim Song-i |  Table tennis | Women's singles
2024 Paris |  Silver | Kim Mi-rae
Jo Jin-mi |  Diving | Women's synchronized 10 metre platform
Ri Jong-sik
Kim Kum-yong |  Table tennis | Mixed doubles
Bronze | Kim Mi-rae |  Diving | Women's 10 metre platform
Pang Chol-mi |  Boxing | Bantamweight(54kg)
Ri Se Ung |  Wrestling | Men's Greco-Roman 60 kg
Choe Hyo-gyong | Women's freestyle 53 kg

### Winter Olympics

[edit]

Medal  | Name  | Games  | Sport  | Event

|
|
|
|

Silver | Han Pil-hwa | 1964 Innsbruck |  Speed skating | Women's 3000 metres
Bronze | Hwang Ok-sil | 1992 Albertville |  Short track speed skating | Women's 500 metres

## Multiple medalists

[edit]

Athlete  | Sport  | Games  |  Gold  |  Silver  |  Bronze  | Total

|
|
|
|
|
|

Kye Sun-hui |  Judo | 1996, 2000, 2004  | 1  | 1  | 1  | 3
Kim Il |  Wrestling | 1992, 1996  | 2  | 0  | 0  | 2
Rim Jong-sim |  Weightlifting | 2012, 2016  | 2  | 0  | 0  | 2
An Kum-ae |  Judo | 2008, 2012  | 1  | 1  | 0  | 2
Om Yun-chol |  Weightlifting | 2012, 2016  | 1  | 1  | 0  | 2
Ri Song-hui |  Weightlifting | 2000, 2004  | 0  | 2  | 0  | 2
Ri Byong-uk |  Boxing | 1976, 1980  | 0  | 1  | 1  | 2
Kim Myong-nam |  Weightlifting | 1992, 1996  | 0  | 1  | 1  | 2
Li Bun-hui |  Table tennis | 1992  | 0  | 0  | 2  | 2

## See also

[edit]

* North Korea portal
* Olympics portal

* List of flag bearers for North Korea at the Olympics
* North Korea at the Paralympics
* Sport in North Korea
* Category:Olympic competitors for North Korea

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b Taylor, Adam (3 January 2018). "Why the Olympics matter when it comes to North Korea". The Washington Post. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
2. ^ North Korea Handbook 2002, p. 488.
3. ^ "Winter Olympics 2018: North Korea will send 22 athletes to Pyeongchang". BBC News. January 20, 2018. Retrieved February 10, 2018.
4. ^ "North Korea at the Winter Olympics: All you need to know". BBC News. February 8, 2018. Retrieved February 10, 2018.
5. ^ Butler, Nick (2018-08-09). "IOC disappointed after UN reject demand for sporting equipment to be sent to North Korea". insidethegames.biz. Retrieved 2021-10-18.
6. ^ Choe, Sang-hun (6 April 2021). "North Korea, citing the pandemic, will skip the Tokyo Olympics". The New York Times. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
7. ^ "North Korea suspended from IOC after Tokyo no-show". Reuters. Reuters. 8 September 2021. Retrieved 8 September 2021.

### Works cited

[edit]

* Yonhap News Agency (2002). North Korea Handbook. Seoul: M.E. Sharpe. ISBN 978-0-7656-3523-5.

## External links

[edit]

* "Democratic People's Republic of Korea". International Olympic Committee. 9 September 2021.
* "North Korea". Olympedia.com.
* "Olympic Analytics/PRK". olympanalyt.com. Archived from the original on 2018-01-08. Retrieved 2020-08-11.
* Taylor, Adam (10 August 2016). "The Olympics are tough for all athletes. For North Koreans, they're worse". The Washington Post.

* v
* t
* e

North Korea at the Olympics

| Summer Olympic Games|

* 1972
* 1976
* 1980
* 1984–1988
* 1992
* 1996
* 2000
* 2004
* 2008
* 2012
* 2016
* 2020
* 2024

|

Winter Olympic Games|

* 1964
* 1968
* 1972
* 1976–1980
* 1984
* 1988
* 1992
* 1994
* 1998
* 2002
* 2006
* 2010
* 2014
* 2018
* 2022
* 2026
* 2030

North Korea did not participate in 1984 due to a boycott.

* v
* t
* e

National sports teams of North Korea

* Badminton
* Baseball
* Basketball
* M
* M-U16
* W
* W-U18
* Football
* M
* M-U23
* M-U20
* M-U17
* W
* W-U20
* W-U17
* Handball
* M
* W
* Ice hockey
* M
* M-U20
* M-U18
* W
* Softball
* Volleyball
* M
* W
* W-U18

* Olympics
* Paralympics
* Asian Games

* v
* t
* e

National Olympic Committees that have competed at the Olympic Games

* Nations at the Summer Olympics
* Nations at the Winter Olympics
* tropical nations

Africa|

* Algeria
* Angola
* Benin
* Botswana
* Burkina Faso
* Burundi
* Cameroon
* Cape Verde
* Central African Republic
* Chad
* Comoros
* Congo
* DR Congo
* Djibouti
* Egypt
* Equatorial Guinea
* Eritrea
* Eswatini
* Ethiopia
* Gabon
* The Gambia
* Ghana
* Guinea
* Guinea-Bissau
* Ivory Coast
* Kenya
* Lesotho
* Liberia
* Libya
* Madagascar
* Malawi
* Mali
* Mauritania
* Mauritius
* Morocco
* Mozambique
* Namibia
* Niger
* Nigeria
* Rwanda
* São Tomé and Príncipe
* Senegal
* Seychelles
* Sierra Leone
* Somalia
* South Africa
* South Sudan
* Sudan
* Tanzania
* Togo
* Tunisia
* Uganda
* Zambia
* Zimbabwe

Americas|

* Antigua and Barbuda
* Argentina
* Aruba
* Bahamas
* Barbados
* Belize
* Bermuda
* Bolivia
* Brazil
* British Virgin Islands
* Canada
* Summer
* Winter
* Cayman Islands
* Chile
* Colombia
* Costa Rica
* Cuba
* Dominica
* Dominican Republic
* Ecuador
* El Salvador
* Grenada
* Guatemala
* Guyana
* Haiti
* Honduras
* Jamaica
* Mexico
* Nicaragua
* Panama
* Paraguay
* Peru
* Puerto Rico
* St. Kitts and Nevis
* St. Lucia
* St. Vincent and the Grenadines
* Suriname
* Trinidad and Tobago
* United States
* Summer
* Winter
* Uruguay
* Venezuela
* Virgin Islands

Asia|

* Afghanistan
* Bahrain
* Bangladesh
* Bhutan
* Brunei
* Cambodia
* China
* Chinese Taipei
* Hong Kong
* India
* Indonesia
* Iran
* Iraq
* Japan
* Jordan
* Kazakhstan
* Kuwait
* Kyrgyzstan
* Laos
* Lebanon
* Malaysia
* Maldives
* Mongolia
* Myanmar
* Nepal
* North Korea
* Oman
* Pakistan
* Palestine
* Philippines
* Qatar
* Saudi Arabia
* Singapore
* South Korea
* Sri Lanka
* Syria
* Tajikistan
* Thailand
* Timor-Leste
* Turkmenistan
* United Arab Emirates
* Uzbekistan
* Vietnam
* Yemen

Europe|

* Albania
* Andorra
* Armenia
* Austria
* Azerbaijan
* Belarus
* Belgium
* Bosnia and Herzegovina
* Bulgaria
* Croatia
* Cyprus
* Czech Republic
* Denmark
* Estonia
* Finland
* France
* Georgia
* Germany
* Summer
* Winter
* Great Britain
* Greece
* Hungary
* Iceland
* Ireland
* Israel
* Italy
* Kosovo
* Latvia
* Liechtenstein
* Lithuania
* Luxembourg
* Malta
* Moldova
* Monaco
* Montenegro
* Netherlands
* North Macedonia
* Norway
* Poland
* Portugal
* Romania
* Russia
* San Marino
* Serbia
* Slovakia
* Slovenia
* Spain
* Sweden
* Switzerland
* Turkey
* Ukraine

Oceania|

* American Samoa
* Australia
* Winter
* Cook Islands
* Fiji
* Guam
* Kiribati
* Marshall Islands
* Micronesia
* Nauru
* New Zealand
* Palau
* Papua New Guinea
* Samoa
* Solomon Islands
* Tonga
* Tuvalu
* Vanuatu

Other|

* Independent Olympians
* Mixed teams
* Korea
* Olympic Athletes from Russia
* Russian Olympic Committee
* Refugee Olympic Team

Historical|

* Australasia
* Bohemia
* British West Indies
* Republic of China
* Czechoslovakia
* East Germany
* Netherlands Antilles
* North Borneo
* North Yemen
* Rhodesia
* Russian Empire
* Saar
* Serbia and Montenegro
* South Yemen
* Soviet Union
* West Germany
* Unified Team
* United Team of Germany
* Yugoslavia

Olympic Games portal
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template