North Korea at the Paralympics

North Korea made its Paralympic Games debut at the 2012 Summer Paralympics in London, sending a single wildcard representative (Rim Ju-song, a left arm and left leg amputee) to compete in swimming."Swimmer set to be first North Korean competitor at the Paralympic Games" , The Independent, 5 July 2012

Context While South Korea has been taking part in the Paralympics since 1968, the North long ignored the Games. Persons with disabilities in North Korea (with the exception of veterans) were reported in 2006 by The Daily Telegraph to be locked away in camps, and "subjected to harsh and sub-human conditions"."North Korea locks up disabled in 'subhuman' gulags, says UN" , The Daily Telegraph, October 21, 2006 Vitit Muntarbhorn, the United Nations' special rapporteur on human rights, reported in 2006 that North Koreans with disabilities were excluded from the country's showcase capital, Pyongyang, and kept in camps where they were categorised by disability. Defectors reported the existence of "collective camps for midgets", whose inmates were forbidden from having children."UN slams Korean 'disabled camps'" , The Age, 22 October 2006

The United Nations reports that the government is "beginning to consider welfare for the disabled"."North Korea begins to help disabled" , UNHCR, March 5, 2008 The charity Handicap International reports that it has been operating in North Korea since 1999 assisting the Korean Federation for the Protection of Disabled People, and the International Committee of the Red Cross reported in 2006 that it had assisted in setting up a rehabilitation centre for disabled people in Pyongyang.

Until 2012, North Korea had completely ignored the Paralympic Games. For a few years already, its propaganda had projected an outward image of a superior socialist system under which even disabled people can prosper. Participating in the Paralympic Games would be the next step. The Associated Press in 2012 reported the existence of the Taedonggong Cultural Center for the Disabled in the capital, Pyongyang.

2012 debut

North Korea obtained provisional membership of the International Paralympic Committee in March 2012, entitling the country to take part in the Games. It reportedly aimed to field athletes in track and field, swimming and table tennis in particular."North Korea to join first Paralympics in London", Reuters, 9 May 2012"North Korea to make Paralympic debut in London", Agence France-Presse, 9 May 2012 "Twelve athletes, coaches, and officials from the North Korean Paralympic team" received training in Beijing prior to the Games."Sour inter-Korean relations thwart athletes’ friendship" , The Hankyoreh, 9 May 2012

Ultimately, however, it was announced that the country's delegation would consist in a single athlete, Rim Ju Song, who would compete in the men's freestyle swimming (S6 disability category) and breaststroke (SB5). Rim had "lost his left arm and left leg, and suffered significant injuries to his right leg and foot in an accident on a construction site when he was five years old". The British Embassy in Pyongyang provided assistance, including financial support, to enable him to obtain training and participate in the Games. He received a wildcard invitation to the Paralympics."Swimmer set to be first North Korean competitor at the Paralympic Games" , The Independent, 5 July 2012

Rim swam in heat 2, which he completed in 47.87 seconds, 17.89 seconds behind heat winner Lorenzo Perez (from Cuba). Rim's time was the slowest of all nineteen swimmers in the first round, 10.68 seconds behind second-last Reagan Wickens (Australia)."London 2012 Paralympic Games: Swimming: Men's 50 m Freestyle S6" , International Paralympic Committee

Full results for North Korea at the Paralympics NameGamesSportEventScoreRank Rim Ju Song 2012 London Swimming Men's 50m freestyle S6 47.87 17th (of 17) Kim Chol Ung(Guide: Ri Kum Song) 2016 Rio de Janeiro Athletics Men's 1500m T11 disqualified not ranked Song Kum Jong 2016 Rio de Janeiro Athletics Women's discus F56-57 12.08 12th (of 14)

Medals Games

Summer Olympic Games GamesGoldSilverBronzeTotal London 20120000 Río de Janeiro 20160000 Tokyo 2020–––– Paris 2024–––– TOTAL 0000Winter Olympic Games GamesGoldSilverBronzeTotal Pyeongchang 20180000 Beijing 2022–––– TOTAL 0000

North Korea at the Paralympics

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