North Korea at the 2008 Summer Olympics

North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) competed in the 2008 Summer Olympics, held in Beijing, People's Republic of China from August 8 to August 24, 2008. The country sent 63 athletes, competing in 11 sports.^[1]

North Korea at the 2008 Summer Olympics
IOC code	PRK
NOC	Olympic Committee of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea
in Beijing
Competitors	63 in 11 sports
Flag bearers	Pang Mun-Il (opening) Pak Hyon-suk (closing)
Medals Ranked 34th	Gold 2 Silver 2 Bronze 2 Total 6
Summer Olympics appearances (overview)
1972 1976 1980 1984–1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020 2024

North and South Korea had initially intended to send a joint delegation to the Games,^[2][3] but were unable to agree on the details of its implementation.^[4][5] (see South Korea at the 2008 Summer Olympics)

Reportedly, North Korean athletes were barred by their government from mingling with other athletes at the Olympic Village, or from leaving the Village to sightsee.^[6]

Medalists

Medal	Name	Sport	Event
Gold	Pak Hyon-suk	Weightlifting	Women's 63 kg
Gold	Hong Un-jong	Gymnastics	Women's vault
Silver	An Kum-ae	Judo	Women's 52 kg
Silver	O Jong-ae	Weightlifting	Women's 58 kg
Bronze	Pak Chol-min	Judo	Men's 66 kg
Bronze	Won Ok-im	Judo	Women's 63 kg

Archery

Main article: Archery at the 2008 Summer Olympics

North Korea sent archers to the Olympics for the fifth time, after not qualifying any for the 2004 Games. Two North Korean women sought the nation's first Olympic medal in the sport. Kwon Un Sil and Son Hye-Yong earned the country two places in the women's individual competition by placing 9th and 24th, respectively, at the 2007 World Outdoor Target Championships.^[7]

Athlete	Event	Ranking round		Round of 64	Round of 32	Round of 16	Quarterfinals	Semifinals	Final / BM
		Score	Seed	Opposition Score	Opposition Score	Opposition Score	Opposition Score	Opposition Score	Opposition Score	Rank
Kwon Un-sil	Women's individual	656	5	Abtin (IRI) (60) W 106–96	Vardineni (IND) (37) W 106–99	Román (MEX) (12) W 105–100	Avitia (MEX) (20) W 105–99	Park S-H (KOR) (1) L 106–109	Yun O-H (KOR) (2) L 106–109	4
Son Hye-Yong		618	45	Avitia (MEX) (20) L 107–112	Did not advance

Athletics

Main article: Athletics at the 2008 Summer Olympics

Key

• Note–Ranks given for track events are within the athlete's heat only
• Q = Qualified for the next round
• q = Qualified for the next round as a fastest loser or, in field events, by position without achieving the qualifying target
• NR = National record
• N/A = Round not applicable for the event
• Bye = Athlete not required to compete in round

Men

Athlete	Event	Final
		Result	Rank
Kim Il-nam	Marathon	2:21:51	42
Pak Song-chol		2:21:16	40
Ri Kum-song		2:19:08	33

Women

Athlete	Event	Final
		Result	Rank
Jo Bun-hui	Marathon	2:37:04	48
Jong Yong-ok		2:34:52	36
Kim Kum-ok		2:30:01	12

Boxing

Main article: Boxing at the 2008 Summer Olympics

North Korea qualified one boxer for the Olympic boxing tournament. Kim Song Guk qualified in the lightweight class at the 2007 World Championships.^[8]

Athlete	Event	Round of 32	Round of 16	Quarterfinals	Semifinals	Final
		Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Rank
Kim Song-guk	Lightweight	Sow (FRA) L 3–13	Did not advance

Diving

Main article: Diving at the 2008 Summer Olympics

Men

Athlete	Events	Preliminaries		Semifinals		Final
		Points	Rank	Points	Rank	Points	Rank
Kim Chon-man	10 m platform	328.85	30	Did not advance

Women

Athlete	Events	Preliminaries		Semifinals		Final
		Points	Rank	Points	Rank	Points	Rank
Kim Jin-ok	10 m platform	291.90	18 Q	259.40	17	Did not advance
Kim Un-hyang		316.20	13 Q	267.00	16	Did not advance
Choe Kum-hui Kim Un-hyang	10 m synchronized platform	—				308.10	6

Football

Main article: Football at the 2008 Summer Olympics

Women's tournament

Main article: Football at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Women's tournament

Roster

Head coach: Kim Kwang-min

North Korea named a squad of 18 players and no alternates for the tournament.^[9][10]

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1	1GK	Jon Myong-hui	(1986-08-07)7 August 1986 (aged 21)			Rimyongsu
2	3MF	Kim Kyong-hwa	(1986-03-28)28 March 1986 (aged 22)			April 25
3	2DF	Om Jong-ran	(1985-10-10)10 October 1985 (aged 22)			April 25
4	2DF	Jang Yong-ok	(1982-09-17)17 September 1982 (aged 25)			April 25
5	2DF	Song Jong-sun	(1981-03-11)11 March 1981 (aged 27)			Amrokkang
6	4FW	Kim Ok-sim	(1987-07-02)2 July 1987 (aged 21)			Rimyongsu
7	3MF	Ho Sun-hui	(1980-03-05)5 March 1980 (aged 28)			Amrokkang
8	4FW	Kil Son-hui	(1986-03-07)7 March 1986 (aged 22)			Rimyongsu
9	3MF	Ri Un-suk	(1986-01-01)1 January 1986 (aged 22)			April 25
10	4FW	Ri Kum-suk (captain)	(1978-08-16)16 August 1978 (aged 29)			April 25
11	3MF	Ri Un-gyong	(1980-11-19)19 November 1980 (aged 27)			Wolmido
12	2DF	Ri Un-hyang	(1988-05-15)15 May 1988 (aged 20)			Amrokkang
13	2DF	Yu Jong-hui	(1986-03-21)21 March 1986 (aged 22)			April 25
14	2DF	Jang Il-ok	(1986-10-10)10 October 1986 (aged 21)			April 25
15	2DF	Sonu Kyong-sun	(1983-09-28)28 September 1983 (aged 24)			April 25
16	2DF	Kong Hye-ok	(1983-07-19)19 July 1983 (aged 25)			April 25
17	4FW	Kim Yong-ae	(1983-03-07)7 March 1983 (aged 25)			April 25
18	1GK	Han Hye-yong	(1985-03-04)4 March 1985 (aged 23)			Pyongyang City

Group play

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Brazil	3	2	1	0	5	2	+3	7	Qualified for the quarterfinals
2	Germany	3	2	1	0	2	0	+2	7
3	North Korea	3	1	0	2	2	3	−1	3
4	Nigeria	3	0	0	3	1	5	−4	0

Source:^{[citation needed]}

6 August 2008

19:45

North Korea	1–0	Nigeria
Kim Kyong-hwa   27'	Report

Shenyang Olympic Stadium, Shenyang

Attendance: 24,084

Referee: Shane de Silva (Trinidad and Tobago)

9 August 2008

19:45

Brazil	2–1	North Korea
Daniela   14' Marta   23'	Report	Ri Kum-suk   90'

Shenyang Olympic Stadium, Shenyang

Attendance: 19,616

Referee: Niu Huijun (China)

12 August 2008

17:00

North Korea	0–1	Germany
	Report	Mittag   86'

Tianjin Olympic Center Stadium, Tianjin

Attendance: 12,387

Referee: Dianne Ferreira-James (Guyana)

Gymnastics

Main article: Gymnastics at the 2008 Summer Olympics

Artistic

Women

Athlete	Event	Qualification						Final
		Apparatus				Total	Rank	Apparatus				Total	Rank
		F	V	UB	BB			F	V	UB	BB
Cha Yong-hwa	Vault	—	13.750	—		13.750	=74	Did not advance
	Uneven bars	—		15.175	—	15.175	12	Did not advance
Hong Un-jong	All-around	13.850	15.650	14.100	12.825	56.425	41	Did not advance
	Vault	—	15.725	—		15.725	2 Q	—	15.650	—		15.650

Judo

Main article: Judo at the 2008 Summer Olympics

North Korea will send six judoka to Beijing,^[11] including:

Men

Athlete	Event	Preliminary	Round of 32	Round of 16	Quarterfinals	Semifinals	Repechage 1	Repechage 2	Repechage 3	Final / BM
		Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Rank
Kim Kyong-jin	−60 kg	Bye	Norbert (MAD) W 1000–0000	Davtyan (ARM) W 0022–0000	Paischer (AUT) L 0000–0020	Did not advance	Bye	Fallon (GBR) L 0001–0100	Did not advance
Pak Chol-min	−66 kg	Bye	Nurmuhammedow (TKM) W 1000–0000	Casale (ITA) W 0010–0001	Dias (POR) W 0002–0000	Darbelet (FRA) L 0001–0210	Bye			Sharipov (UZB) W 0100–0001
Kim Chol-su	−73 kg	—	Girones (CUB) W 1000–0001	Kevkhishvili (GEO) W 0111–0110	Mammadli (AZE) L 0000–0200	Did not advance	Bye	van Tichelt (BEL) L 0000–1011	Did not advance

Women

Athlete	Event	Round of 32	Round of 16	Quarterfinals	Semifinals	Repechage 1	Repechage 2	Repechage 3	Final / BM
		Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Rank
Pak Ok-song	−48 kg	Bye	Hormigo (POR) W 0100–0000	Nurgazina (KAZ) W 0011–0001	Bermoy (CUB) L 0000–1021	Bye			Pareto (ARG) L 0001–0100	5
An Kum-ae	−52 kg	Mestre (CUB) W 0201–0000	Velázquez (VEN) W 0010–0001	Kaliyeva (KAZ) W 0200–0000	Nakamura (JPN) W 0001–0000	Bye			Xian (CHN) L 0001–0011
Kye Sun-Hui	−57 kg	Filzmoser (AUT) W 1001–0001	Harel (FRA) L 0010–0101	Did not advance
Won Ok-Im	−63 kg	Bye	Krukower (ARG) W 0020–0010	Willeboordse (NED) W 0200–0000	Décosse (FRA) L 0000–0211	Bye			Heill (AUT) W 0110–0001

Shooting

Main article: Shooting at the 2008 Summer Olympics

North Korea will be represented by six shooters, including Kim Jong-su, who won bronze in the men's 50m pistol in Athens.^[12] Kim Jong-su, who originally won a silver medal in the men's 50 metre pistol and a bronze medal in the men's 10 metre air pistol, was tested positive for the banned substance of propranolol, and subsequently stripped off his medals.^[13]

Men

Athlete	Event	Qualification		Final
		Points	Rank	Points	Rank
Kim Jong-su	10 m air pistol	584	3 Q	683	DSQ^[13]
	50 m pistol	563	2 Q	660.2	DSQ^[13]
Kwon Tong-hyok	10 m air pistol	575	26	Did not advance
Ryu Myong-yon	50 m pistol	551	27	Did not advance

Women

Athlete	Event	Qualification		Final
		Points	Rank	Points	Rank
Jo Yong-suk	10 m air pistol	382	15	Did not advance
	25 m pistol	584	4 Q	783.4	6
Pak Jong-ran	Skeet	66	9	Did not advance
Pak Yong-hui	Trap	56	18	Did not advance

Synchronized swimming

Main article: Synchronized swimming at the 2008 Summer Olympics

Athlete	Event	Technical routine		Free routine (preliminary)			Free routine (final)
		Points	Rank	Points	Total (technical + free)	Rank	Points	Total (technical + free)	Rank
Kim Yong-mi Wang Ok-gyong^[14]	Duet	42.917	16	43.584	86.501	16	Did not advance

Table tennis

Main article: Table tennis at the 2008 Summer Olympics

Athlete	Event	Preliminary round	Round 1	Round 2	Round 3	Round 4	Quarterfinals	Semifinals	Final / BM
		Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Rank
Jang Song-man	Men's singles	Aguirre (PAR) W 4–0	Liu S (ARG) W 4–2	He Z W (ESP) W 4–2	Li C (HKG) L 1–4	Did not advance
Kim Hyok-bong		Al-Hasan (KUW) W 4–2	Monteiro (BRA) W 4–1	Chiang P-L (TPE) W 4–2	Boll (GER) L 1–4	Did not advance
Ri Chol-Guk		Bye	Gardos (AUT) L 3–4	Did not advance
Kim Jong	Women's singles	Bye	Ramos (VEN) W 4–0	Dodean (ROU) W 4–1	Park M-Y (KOR) L 0–4	Did not advance
Kim Mi-yong		Bye	Paškauskienė (LTU) L 3–4	Did not advance

Weightlifting

Main article: Weightlifting at the 2008 Summer Olympics

Men

Athlete	Event	Snatch		Clean & Jerk		Total	Rank
		Result	Rank	Result	Rank
Cha Kum-chol	−56 kg	128	5	155	5	283	5
Ri Kyong-sok		122	DNF	—	—	—	DNF
Im Yong-su	−62 kg	138	3	168	DNF	138	DNF
Kim Chol-jin	−69 kg	146	=8	180	6	326	6

Women

Athlete	Event	Snatch		Clean & Jerk		Total	Rank
		Result	Rank	Result	Rank
O Jong-ae	−58 kg	95	6	131	2	226
Pak Hyon-suk	−63 kg	106	2	135	1	241
Hong Yong-ok	−69 kg	103	DNF	—	—	—	DNF

Wrestling

Main article: Wrestling at the 2008 Summer Olympics

Key:

• VT - Victory by Fall.
• PP - Decision by Points - the loser with technical points.
• PO - Decision by Points - the loser without technical points.

Men's freestyle

Athlete	Event	Qualification	Round of 16	Quarterfinal	Semifinal	Repechage 1	Repechage 2	Final / BM
		Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Rank
Yang Kyong-il	−55 kg	Bye	Sevdimov (AZE) L 1–3 ^PP	Did not advance					12
Yang Chun-song	−66 kg	Bye	Batyrov (BLR) L 1–3 ^PP	Did not advance					15

Men's Greco-Roman

Athlete	Event	Qualification	Round of 16	Quarterfinal	Semifinal	Repechage 1	Repechage 2	Final / BM
		Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Rank
Cha Kwang-su	−55 kg	Bye	Hernández (CUB) L 1–3 ^PP	Did not advance					15

External links

• "North Korea Heads for Best Olympics; Don't Say It in Pyongyang", Bloomberg, August 21, 2008
• "A lonely Olympics experience", The Oregonian, August 19, 2008

References

1. , Xinhua, July 31, 2008
2. "North and South Korea to join forces in fight for Olympic gold", The Guardian, November 2, 2005
3. "'One' Korea for Olympics", The Age, February 26, 2004
4. "No progress on joint Korean Olympic team: officials", ABC News, April 4, 2006
5. "Sides still at odds over joint '08 Olympics team", Associated Press, December 1, 2006
6. "A lonely Olympics experience", The Oregonian, August 19, 2008
7. (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-02-11. Retrieved 2008-05-14.
8. (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-09-11. Retrieved 2008-05-15.
9. . FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
10. . BOCOG. 2008. Archived from the original on 9 August 2008. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
11. , Xinhua, July 30, 2008
12. "DPRK shooter Kim eyes top two at Beijing Olympics" 2012-10-21 at the Wayback Machine, Xinhua, July 30, 2008
13. "Two more athletes fail dope tests". 15 August 2008.
14. , Xinhua, August 19, 2008