Samsung Electronics said it stopped production and the global sales of its Galaxy Note 7 phablet Tuesday, weeks after it resumed the sales following an unprecedented replacement program. The South Korean tech giant advised customers to turn off their phones -- whether new or a replacement -- and stop using them. Note 7 owners in the U.S. and elsewhere have reported that their handsets caught fire even after they exchanged them for new ones.

Samsung said it has decided to stop global sales and replacements of its Galaxy Note 7 after consulting with the state-run Korean Agency for Technology and Standards and related authorities.

The South Korean government issued a statement saying it had found potential new problems with the model, hinting that the battery is not the sole cause of the fires. Experts have questioned Samsung's earlier claims that the problem is with faulty batteries, saying that chips or printed circuit boards may be the source of the trouble.

"We confirmed that there were possibilities of new problems in the device during a meeting with Samsung and experts on Oct. 10," read a statement by the Korea Agency for Technology and Standards, the state agency dealing with technology and standardization matters. "We concluded that we need to act immediately for the safety of consumers."

Here is Samsung's statement:

We are working with relevant regulatory bodies to investigate the recently reported cases involving the Galaxy Note7. Because consumers’ safety remains our top priority, Samsung will ask all carrier and retail partners globally to stop sales and exchanges of the Galaxy Note7 while the investigation is taking place.

We remain committed to working diligently with appropriate regulatory authorities to take all necessary steps to resolve the situation. Consumers with either an original Galaxy Note7 or replacement Galaxy Note7 device should power down and stop using the device and take advantage of the remedies available.

Earlier this week, Samsung suspended production of the Galaxy Note 7 amid a series of media reports that some of its replacements have caught fire.

The South Korean tech giant announced the global recall of the controversial handset in early September due to reports of some handsets catching fire while charging.

Analysts say a permanent end to Note 7 sales could cost Samsung up to $17 billion and tarnish its other phone products in the minds of consumers and carriers.