Bronze medalists South Korea's Lim Jonghoon takes a selfie picture with his mobile as he celebrates on the podium. GETTY IMAGES

An image of North Korean and South Korean table tennis players taking a selfie together on the podium in Paris has gone viral. This gesture, captured after the awards ceremony, has been hailed as a sign of unity between the two Koreas amid the political tension that both countries are experiencing.

In the mixed doubles table tennis event at the Paris 2024 Olympics, South Korea won bronze and North Korea took silver, trailing behind China. During the ceremony, South Korea’s Lim Jong-hoon took a group photo featuring Ri Jong Sik and Kim Kum Yong from North Korea, as well as the victorious Chinese duo Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha.

The teams from China, North Korea, and South Korea on the podium. GETTY IMAGES
The teams from China, North Korea, and South Korea on the podium. GETTY IMAGES

The photo, taken with a South Korean-made Samsung phone, prominently displays the national flags of both countries, a detail highlighted by the daily JongAng Ilbo. This marks North Korea’s first Olympic podium appearance since 2016, as they did not participate in the Tokyo Olympics due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Lim Jong-hoon expressed his congratulations to the North Korean athletes after the ceremony. “I congratulated them when they were introduced as silver medallists,” Lim told Korean media. The selfie has been repeatedly aired by South Korean broadcasters, with many commentators reflecting on the significance of this unusual moment of harmony.

“This is the true spirit of the Olympics,” one commentator remarked, highlighting the positive impact of this encounter amid the current tensions between the two nations.