South Korea’s tech giant Samsung Electronics Co. has decided to temporarily withhold shipment of Galaxy Note7 phones a week after they returned the shelves as the device with battery fix also has come under scrutiny upon reports of catching fire or emitting smoke.

Samsung Electronics in a disclosure statement said that it was investigating latest reports and concerns around Galaxy Note7 and “adjusting the supply for better quality control.” It did not elaborate.

The world’s largest smartphone maker received another setback over Galaxy Note7 whose battery problem caused the company $1 billion recall on 2.5 million units released in the first month after the replacement phone also reported of battery fire, raising concerns about the viability of the cutting-edge phone.

“The latest measure (to temporarily halt production) includes (Samsung Electronics’) manufacturing plant in Vietnam that is responsible for global supply,” an industry source said.

The source said that Samsung Electronics is currently cooperatively working with respective regulators including the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, and China’s regulation authority for safety test and examination on the newly released phones.

The latest production halt comes after Samsung Electronics announced a worldwide recall program for its newly released Galaxy Note7 devices in early September on safety concerns after reports that they could catch fire while charging due to battery fault. Samsung Electronics provided Galaxy Note7 owners with new devices but reports appeared late last month at home and abroad that even some of the new devices are vulnerable to safety concerns. According to media reports, there have been five cases of overheating and fires in the U.S., and one in each Korea, China, and Taiwan.

The latest move to suspend production, meanwhile, is expected to cause setback and delay shipments of newly replaced Galaxy Note7 smartphones to global markets including major countries in Europe and India that have initially been scheduled for Oct. 28.

By Lee Gyung-jin

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