The International Female Boxers' Association has stripped two North Korean boxers of their championship belts.

The association on Thursday said its move was spurred after junior bantamweight champion Ryu Myong-ok and bantamweight champion Kim Kwang-ok decided to fight for the World Boxing Council for Females.

The IFBA is apparently concerned that the WBCF championship bouts of the two boxers in Pyongyang will undermine the association's position.

However, South Korea's flyweight champion Choi Shin-hee and junior flyweight champion Kim Ju-hee will retain their IFBA titles since they will not take part in the Pyongyang matches.