# 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.
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

| Athlete | Event | Ranking round | Ranking round | Round of 64 | Round of 32 | Round of 16 | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Final | Final |
| Athlete | Event | 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 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |

## Athletics

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):

### 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 | Final |
| Athlete | Event | Result | Rank |
| Kim Kwang-hyok | Marathon | 2:20:20 | 53 |
| Pak Song-chol | Marathon | 2:20:20 | 52 |

### Women

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

## Boxing

North Korea has qualified boxers for the following events.

### Men

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

### Women

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

## Diving

North Korea has qualified in the following events.

### Men

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

### Women

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

## Football

North Korea is qualified for the women's event
* Women's team event – 1 team of 18 players

### Women's tournament
#### Team roster

Head coach: Sin Ui-gun
North Korea named a squad of 18 players and 4 alternates for the tournament. 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.
| 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 | Teamvte | 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 | Qualified for the quarter-finals |
| 3 | North Korea | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 | −4 | 3 | |
| 4 | Colombia | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 | −6 | 0 | |
† Game delayed by one hour due to North Korean protest after erroneous use of South Korean flag for North Korea.

## Judo

| Athlete | Event | Round of 32 | Round of 16 | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Repechage | Final / BM | Final / BM |
| Athlete | Event | 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

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

### Women

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

## Synchronized swimming

North Korea has qualified 2 quota places in synchronized swimming.
| Athlete | Event | Technical routine | Technical routine | Free routine (preliminary) | Free routine (preliminary) | Free routine (preliminary) | Free routine (final) | Free routine (final) | Free routine (final) |
| Athlete | Event | 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 | Did not advance | Did not advance |

## Table tennis

North Korea has qualified 6 quotas athlete for singles table tennis events.

### Men

| Athlete | Event | Preliminary round | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Round 4 | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Final / BM | Final / BM |
| Athlete | Event | Opposition Result | Opposition Result | Opposition Result | Opposition Result | Opposition Result | Opposition Result | Opposition Result | Opposition Result | Rank |
| Kim Hyok-bong | Singles | Bye | Bye | Ghosh (IND) W 4–1 | Joo S-H (KOR) W 4–2 | Jiang Ty (HKG) L 3–4 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Kim Song-nam | Singles | Wang (USA) W 4–0 | Lin J (DOM) L 3–4 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Jang Song-man Kim Hyok-bong Kim Song-nam | Team | — | — | — | — | South Korea (KOR) L 1–3 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |

### Women

| Athlete | Event | Preliminary round | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Round 4 | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Final / BM | Final / BM |
| Athlete | Event | Opposition Result | Opposition Result | Opposition Result | Opposition Result | Opposition Result | Opposition Result | Opposition Result | Opposition Result | Rank |
| Kim Jong | Singles | Bye | Bye | Molnar (CRO) W 4–1 | Jiang Hj (HKG) L 2–4 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Ri Myong-sun | Singles | Bye | Bye | Xian Yf (FRA) L 2–4 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | 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 | Did not advance | Did not advance |

## Weightlifting

North Korea has qualified 5 men and 3 women.

### Men

| Athlete | Event | Snatch | Snatch | Clean & Jerk | Clean & Jerk | Total | Rank |
| Athlete | Event | Result | Rank | Result | Rank | Total | Rank |
| Om Yun-chol | −56 kg | 125 | 6 | 168 OR | 1 | 293 | |
| Sin Chol-Bom | −56 kg | 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 | −69 kg | 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 | Snatch | Clean & Jerk | Clean & Jerk | Total | Rank |
| Athlete | Event | Result | Rank | Result | Rank | Total | 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

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 | Final / BM |
| Athlete | Event | 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 | 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 | Final / BM |
| Athlete | Event | 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 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | 15 |

### Women's freestyle

| Athlete | Event | Qualification | Round of 16 | Quarterfinal | Semifinal | Repechage 1 | Repechage 2 | Final / BM | Final / BM |
| Athlete | Event | 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 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | 10 |
| Choe Un-gyong | −63 kg | Bye | Jing Rx (CHN) L 1–3 $^{PP}$ | Did not advance | Did not advance | Bye | Michalik (POL) L 1–3 $^{PP}$ | Did not advance | 12 |