North Korean table tennis players who took selfies with South Korean star Shin Yu-bin and other medalists during the Paris Olympics on July 30 are reportedly undergoing ideological scrutiny in Pyongyang.

The primary reason cited is that they were seen smiling next to athletes from South Korea, a country considered hostile by North Korea.

According to Daily NK, a media outlet specializing in North Korean affairs, the North’s delegation returned to Pyongyang on Aug. 15 and is going through what has been described as an ideological evaluation.

This is a standard procedure for North Koreans who have been exposed to non-communist cultures while abroad. The media outlet said that North Korea views staying in a non-communist country as a form of “exposure to contamination.”

The source said the evaluation begins the moment the 커뮤니티 athletes return home to “cleanse” them as quickly as possible.

According to reports, North Korean athletes were instructed by authorities before participating in the Olympics not to interact with South Korean or other foreign athletes. Any confirmed violations of this directive could result in punishment.

In particular, table tennis players Ri Jong-sik and Kim Kum-yong, who won silver medals in the mixed doubles, are reportedly under scrutiny for smiling alongside South Korea’s Shin Yu-bin and Lim Jong-hoon.

Kim Kum-yong took a selfie with a smile, while Ri Jong-sik was seen smiling as he looked at other athletes after stepping down from the podium. According to Daily NK, other North Korean athletes are also undergoing a month-long ideological evaluation process.