NORTH Korea's Olympic athletes could be sent down the coal mines for their dire showing in Rio.

Kim Jong-un warned his country's athletes to return with at least 17 medals prior to the Games.

Yun Yong-bok, a senior Olympic official even advised: "We didn't come all the way here to win a meagre five gold medals."

4 North Korea's athletes will have to answer Kim's questions over their Olympic failure or risk being sent to the coal mines as punishment Credit: Getty Images

4 North Korea were given a trouncing in Rio with wrestler Yang Kyong Il (right) among those given a pasting Credit: Reuters

But after the North Koreans limped back to Pyongyang with just seven medals, including two golds, its athletes could face the wrath of chubby despot Kim.

Expert on the secretive nation, Toshimitsu Shigemura, said: "Those who won medals will be rewarded with better housing allocations, better rations, a car and maybe other gifts from the regime.

"But Kim is going to be angry and disappointed at these results.

"Those he feels have let him down are likely to be punished by being moved to poorer quality housing, having their rations reduced and, in the worst-case scenario, being sent to the coal mines as punishment."

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The nation's humiliation is likely to compounded by the fact bitter rivals South Korea went home with 21 medals, including nine golds.

Among those who bucked the trend with gold were Ri Se-gwang in the men's gymnastics vault and Rim Jong-sim in the women's weightlifting.

Kim has form when it comes to punishing his underperforming athletes.

Some of its national football team were reportedly sent to coal mines after their 7-0 thrashing by Portugal at the 2010 World Cup.

The state broadcaster had taken the unusual step of allowing the match to be beamed live into homes.

4 Ri Se-gwang was one of the rare success stories, taking gold in the men's gymnastics vault Credit: Reuters

4 While Rim Jong-sim also topped the podium in the women's weightlifting Credit: Getty Images

Many of those were allowed to return to their homes after one or two years.

Kim Myong-chol, an unofficial spokesman for the communist state, reckons the country's Olympians may get off lightly.

He told The Telegraph: "They will get a warm welcome and be treated as heroes.

"It was a very strong showing by the North's athletes, even if we did not do quite as well as in London.

"But if you rank the results in terms of gold medals per GDP, then North Korea is close to the top of the table."

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