North Korea at the 2012 Summer Olympics

North Korea (officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea) competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, from 27 July to 12 August 2012. This was the nation's ninth appearance at the Olympics since its debut in 1972. North Korean athletes did not attend the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, when they joined the Soviet boycott, and subsequently, led a boycott at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, along with six other nations.

North Korea at the 2012 Summer Olympics
IOC code	PRK
NOC	Olympic Committee of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea
in London
Competitors	51 in 10 sports
Flag bearers	Pak Song-chol (opening) Ri Jong-myong (closing)
Medals Ranked 20th	Gold 4 Silver 0 Bronze 3 Total 7
Summer Olympics appearances (overview)
1972 1976 1980 1984–1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020 2024

Olympic Committee of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea sent the nation's third largest delegation ever to the Games. A total of 51 athletes, 15 men and 36 women, competed in 10 sports. Women's football was the only team-based sport in which North Korea was represented at these Olympic games. There was only a single competitor in archery, judo, and shooting. Marathon runner Pak Song-chol became the first track and field athlete to carry the North Korean flag at the opening ceremony. For the first time since its Olympic return in 1992, North Korea did not qualify athletes in gymnastics.

North Korea left London with a total of 7 medals (4 gold and 3 bronze), beating its record from the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. Along with the 1992 Summer Olympics, this was also the nation's most successful Olympics for the number of gold medals received at a single games. All of these medals were awarded to the team in judo, weightlifting, and wrestling.

Medalists

Medal Name Sport Event Date  Gold An Kum-ae Judo Women's 52 kg 29 July  Gold Om Yun-chol Weightlifting Men's 56 kg 29 July  Gold Kim Un-guk Weightlifting Men's 62 kg 30 July  Gold Rim Jong-sim Weightlifting Women's 69 kg 1 August  Bronze Ryang Chun-hwa Weightlifting Women's 48 kg 28 July  Bronze Kim Myong-hyok Weightlifting Men's 69 kg 31 July  Bronze Yang Kyong-il Wrestling Men's freestyle 55 kg 10 August

Medals by sport Sport Total Weightlifting 3 0 2 5 Judo 1 0 0 1 Wrestling 0 0 1 1 Total 4 0 3 7

Archery

Main article: Archery at the 2012 Summer Olympics

Athlete	Event	Ranking round		Round of 64	Round of 32	Round of 16	Quarterfinals	Semifinals	Final
		Score	Seed	Opposition Score	Opposition Score	Opposition Score	Opposition Score	Opposition Score	Opposition Score	Rank
Kwon Un-sil	Women's individual	638	41	Valeeva (ITA) (24) L 3–7	Did not advance

Athletics

Main article: Athletics at the 2012 Summer Olympics

North Korean athletes have so far achieved qualifying standards in the following athletics events (up to a maximum of 3 athletes in each event at the 'A' Standard, and 1 at the 'B' Standard):^[1][2]

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 Kwang-hyok	Marathon	2:20:20	53
Pak Song-chol		2:20:20	52

Women

Athlete	Event	Final
		Result	Rank
Jon Kyong-hui	Marathon	2:35:17	56
Kim Kum-ok		2:33:30	49
Kim Mi-gyong		2:38:33	74

Boxing

Main article: Boxing at the 2012 Summer Olympics

North Korea has qualified boxers for the following events.

Men

Athlete	Event	Round of 32	Round of 16	Quarterfinals	Semifinals	Final
		Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Rank
Pak Jong-chol	Flyweight	Henriques (BRA) L 8–12	Did not advance

Women

Athlete	Event	Round of 16	Quarterfinals	Semifinals	Final
		Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Rank
Kim Hye-song	Flyweight	Savelyeva (RUS) L 9–12	Did not advance

Diving

Main article: Diving at the 2012 Summer Olympics

North Korea has qualified in the following events.

Men

Athlete	Event	Preliminaries		Semifinals		Final
		Points	Rank	Points	Rank	Points	Rank
Ri Hyon-ju	10 m platform	331.30	32	Did not advance

Women

Athlete	Event	Preliminaries		Semifinals		Final
		Points	Rank	Points	Rank	Points	Rank
Kim Jin-ok	10 m platform	320.10	15 Q	312.95	14	Did not advance
Kim Un-hyang		308.10	18 Q	314.40	13	Did not advance

Football

Main article: Football at the 2012 Summer Olympics

North Korea is qualified for the women's event

• Women's team event – 1 team of 18 players

Women's tournament

Main article: Football at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Women's tournament

Team roster

Head coach: Sin Ui-gun

North Korea named a squad of 18 players and 4 alternates for the tournament.^[3] During the tournament, Choe Yong-sim replaced Kwon Song-hwa on 25 July and Kim Su-gyong replaced Ro Chol-ok on 31 July 2012 due to injury.^[4][5]

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1	1GK	Jo Yun-mi	(1989-05-22)22 May 1989 (aged 23)	14	0	April 25
2	2DF	Kim Nam-hui	(1994-03-04)4 March 1994 (aged 18)	10	0	April 25
3	2DF	Kim Myong-gum	(1990-11-04)4 November 1990 (aged 21)	14	0	Rimyongsu
4	2DF	Ro Chol-ok	(1993-01-03)3 January 1993 (aged 19)	6	0	April 25
5	2DF	Yun Song-mi	(1992-01-28)28 January 1992 (aged 20)	20	2	Pyongyang City
6	3MF	Choe Un-ju	(1991-01-23)23 January 1991 (aged 21)	14	3	Pyongyang City
7	3MF	Ri Ye-gyong	(1989-10-26)26 October 1989 (aged 22)	25	9	Amrokkang
8	3MF	Jon Myong-hwa	(1993-08-09)9 August 1993 (aged 18)	24	3	April 25
9	4FW	Choe Mi-gyong	(1991-01-17)17 January 1991 (aged 21)	13	4	Rimyongsu
10	4FW	Yun Hyon-hi	(1992-09-09)9 September 1992 (aged 19)	22	6	April 25
11	3MF	Kim Chung-sim (captain)	(1990-11-27)27 November 1990 (aged 21)	15	2	April 25
12	3MF	Kim Un-hyang	(1993-08-26)26 August 1993 (aged 18)	9	2	April 25
13	3MF	O Hui-sun	(1993-11-22)22 November 1993 (aged 18)	9	0	Sobaeksu
14	2DF	Pong Son-hwa	(1993-02-18)18 February 1993 (aged 19)	9	0	Pyongyang City
15	2DF	Ri Nam-sil	(1994-02-13)13 February 1994 (aged 18)	1	0	Sobaeksu
16	4FW	Kim Song-hui	(1987-02-23)23 February 1987 (aged 25)	18	5	Pyongyang City
17	4FW	Kwon Song-hwa	(1992-02-05)5 February 1992 (aged 20)	6	0	April 25
18	1GK	O Chang-ran	(1991-09-05)5 September 1991 (aged 20)	6	0	Mangyongbong
20	2DF	Choe Yong-sim	(1990-10-13)13 October 1990 (aged 21)	17	0	Pyongyang City
21	3MF	Kim Su-gyong	(1995-01-04)4 January 1995 (aged 17)	15	2	April 25

Group play

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	United States	3	3	0	0	8	2	+6	9	Qualified for the quarter-finals
2	France	3	2	0	1	8	4	+4	6
3	North Korea	3	1	0	2	2	6	−4	3
4	Colombia	3	0	0	3	0	6	−6	0

Source: IOC

25 July 2012

20:50 †

Colombia	0–2	North Korea
	Report	Kim Song-hui 39', 85'

Hampden Park, Glasgow

Attendance: 18,900^[6]

Referee: Carol Anne Chenard (Canada)

---

28 July 2012

19:45

France	5–0	North Korea
Georges 45' Thomis 70' Delie 71' Renard 81' Catala 87'	Report

Hampden Park, Glasgow

Attendance: 11,743^[7]

Referee: Thérèse Neguel (Cameroon)

---

31 July 2012

17:15

United States	1–0	North Korea
Wambach 25'	Report

Old Trafford, Manchester

Attendance: 29,522^[8]

Referee: Jenny Palmqvist (Sweden)

† Game delayed by one hour due to North Korean protest after erroneous use of South Korean flag for North Korea.^[9]

Judo

Main article: Judo at the 2012 Summer Olympics

Athlete	Event	Round of 32	Round of 16	Quarterfinals	Semifinals	Repechage	Final / BM
		Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Rank
An Kum-Ae	Women's −52 kg	Cox (GBR) W 0001–0000	Nakamura (JPN) W 0102–0002	Gneto (FRA) W 0102–0013	Forciniti (ITA) W 0101–0000	Bye	Bermoy (CUB) W 0001–0000

Shooting

Main article: Shooting at the 2012 Summer Olympics

The following quota place has been qualified for the North Korean shooting squad at the Games;^[10]

Women

Athlete	Event	Qualification		Final
		Points	Rank	Points	Rank
Jo Yong-suk	10 m air pistol	384	10	Did not advance
	25 m pistol	583	7 Q	782.3	7

Synchronized swimming

Main article: Synchronized swimming at the 2012 Summer Olympics

North Korea has qualified 2 quota places in synchronized swimming.

Athlete	Event	Technical routine		Free routine (preliminary)			Free routine (final)
		Points	Rank	Points	Total (technical + free)	Rank	Points	Total (technical + free)	Rank
Jang Hyang-mi Jong Yon-hui	Duet	84.400	16	84.830	169.230	16	Did not advance

Table tennis

Main article: Table tennis at the 2012 Summer Olympics

North Korea has qualified 6 quotas athlete for singles table tennis events.^[11]

Men

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
Kim Hyok-bong	Singles	Bye		Ghosh (IND) W 4–1	Joo S-H (KOR) W 4–2	Jiang Ty (HKG) L 3–4	Did not advance
Kim Song-nam		Wang (USA) W 4–0	Lin J (DOM) L 3–4	Did not advance
Jang Song-man Kim Hyok-bong Kim Song-nam	Team	—				South Korea (KOR) L 1–3	Did not advance

Women

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
Kim Jong	Singles	Bye		Molnar (CRO) W 4–1	Jiang Hj (HKG) L 2–4	Did not advance
Ri Myong-sun		Bye		Xian Yf (FRA) L 2–4	Did not advance
Kim Jong Ri Mi-gyong Ri Myong-sun	Team	—				Great Britain (GBR) W 3–0	Singapore (SIN) L 0–3	Did not advance

Weightlifting

Main article: Weightlifting at the 2012 Summer Olympics

North Korea has qualified 5 men and 3 women.

Men

Athlete	Event	Snatch		Clean & Jerk		Total	Rank
		Result	Rank	Result	Rank
Om Yun-chol	−56 kg	125	6	168 OR	1	293
Sin Chol-Bom		113	12	145	9	258	8
Kim Un-guk	−62 kg	153 OR	1	174	2	327 WR
Kim Kum-sok	−69 kg	140	11	175	7	315	8
Kim Myong-hyok		145	5	184	3	329

• Kim Myong-hyok originally finished fourth, but in June 2021, he was promoted to bronze due to the disqualification of Răzvan Martin.

Women

Athlete	Event	Snatch		Clean & Jerk		Total	Rank
		Result	Rank	Result	Rank
Ryang Chun-hwa	−48 kg	80	5	112	2	192
Jong Chun-mi	−58 kg	101	4	130	4	231	4
Rim Jong-sim	−69 kg	115	1	146	1	261

Wrestling

Main article: Wrestling at the 2012 Summer Olympics

North Korea has qualified in the following events.

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	Mansurov (UZB) W 3–1 PP	Otarsultanov (RUS) L 1–3 PP	Did not advance	Bye	Shilimela (NAM) W 3–1 PP	Niyazbekov (KAZ) W 3–1 PP
Ri Jong-myong	−60 kg	Bye	Tarash (AUS) W 3–0 PO	Madany (EGY) W 3–1 PP	Kudukhov (RUS) L 0–3 PO	Bye		Dutt (IND) L 1–3 PP	5

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
Yun Won-chol	−55 kg	Bye	Choi G-J (KOR) L 0–3 PO	Did not advance					15

Women'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
Han Kum-ok	−55 kg	Bye	Rentería (COL) L 1–3 PP	Did not advance					10
Choe Un-gyong	−63 kg	Bye	Jing Rx (CHN) L 1–3 PP	Did not advance		Bye	Michalik (POL) L 1–3 PP	Did not advance	12

See also

• North Korea at the 2012 Summer Paralympics