Report: North Korea's Choe did not meet with Brazil's president

RIO DE JANEIRO, Aug. 10 (UPI) -- North Korea has been misreporting the activities of politician Choe Ryong Hae in Brazil, according to South Korean press reports.

Pyongyang had stated earlier in the week North Korea's most powerful politician after Kim Jong Un had met with Brazil's interim President Michel Temer, and held talks with the chairman of the International Olympic Committee.

But an official from the Brazilian foreign ministry told Yonhap Choe and Temer never met.

The North Korean delegation was denied a meeting with the Brazilian leader, the unidentified ministry official said.

Choe has instead busied himself with attending matches at the Rio Olympic Games to show support for competing North Korean athletes. In his spare time he has been taking tours of Brazil, South Korean news service News 1 reported.

On Monday, Choe watched table tennis player Kim Son I and explored the Christ the Redeemer statue on Corcovado Mountain.

On Tuesday, Choe was seen at an archery competition where North Korean athlete Kang Un Ju took part in the women's individual archery qualification rounds.

Choe also watched North Korean divers Kim Kuk Hyang and Kim Mi Rae in the women's synchronized 10m platform diving final, according to Yonhap.

When approached by South Korean reporters, Choe tried to brush them off and offered few comments, South Korean television network TV Chosun reported Wednesday.

The North Korean delegation has stepped up security around Choe, who would often slip on his glasses to watch events, according to the report.