Six of the strangest stories to come out of North Korea

It's hard to know what to believe when it comes to the secretive state.

Six of the strangest stories to come out of North Korea

By Brian Moss and Lorraine Murphy

Kim Jong-un’s North Korea is back in the headlines again this week and, not surprisingly, for all the wrong reasons.

Over the weekend, the restrictive state claimed that it had launched a long-range rocket carrying a satellite. It can be difficult to separate truth from fiction when it comes to the country’s news output; after all, the North Koreans have been known to exaggerate in the past!

From Kim Jong-Il’s prowess on the golf course to the consequences of dreaming different dreams to the leadership, here are just some of the more bizarre facts and fictions about the world’s most secretive country.

Baby on board

The North Koreans have, to put it mildly a god-like view of Kim Jong-un, their leader (it’s fair to say that most of this is out of fear). Few are brave enough to question recent reports that Kim Jong-un learned to drive at the age of three.

Yes, according to new teaching guide ‘Kim Jong-un Revolutionary Activities’ the podgy premier showed prodigious qualities from early on, mastering the humble auto-mobile by his third birthday. A fantastic feat indeed, given most three year olds’ biting point was their sibling’s arm as opposed to the point between the clutch and accelerator!

Sporting Hero

Kim Jong-un’s old man Kim Jong-il was a dab hand at golf, it seems. According to official accounts, on his first ever trip to the golf course, he shot 38-under par - including 5 hole-in-ones! Take that, Rory. As the game went so well, the former leader decided never to play again. Well after five holes in one, why would you?

It wasn’t just golf that Kim Jong-il excelled at, as according to the North Korean news service, he also bowled a perfect 300 on his first time out bowling. #winning

Sexiest Man Alive

Well, to look at him, you wouldn’t have thunk it, but Kim Jong-un was once voted the sexiest man alive. Yes, you read it right, but as you can no doubt guess, all is not what it seems. Famed US satirical magazine The Onion ran the story in 2012.

Screenshot/ The Onion
Screenshot/ The Onion

The Chinese news agency picked up on the ‘poll result’ and ran the story in their news, no doubt to the delight of the award’s recipient. The female population of China have yet to respond publically to the findings!

Hair Today Gone Tomorrow

State controlled coiffures have long been in place in North Korea, with men limited to a mere 10 styles and 18 for women to choose from.

According to recent reports, male university students are now required to get the same haircut as Kim Jong-un, which must fill them with joy.

Ironically, Kim Jong-un reportedly cuts his own hair due to a childhood phobia of barbers. Presumably, the feeling amongst North Korea’s barbering community is more than mutual!

Getting the Vote Out

North Korea holds elections every five years and, unlike general elections here where party hacks spend election nights mulling over exit polls and counting the seats to see who has the numbers, North Korea’s election is a much easier outcome to predict, especially as there is only one candidate’s name on each district’s ballot paper. In the 2014 election, Kim Jong-un

Read More:

Sweet Dreaming

Opposing North Korea’s ideology can be fatal, as those who have managed to escape the clutches of Kim’s regime have attested to. The systemic murdering of political opponents is nothing new in the secretive country, but some of the reasons for offing opponents certainly are unique.

Being a member of Kim’s family doesn’t seem to mean you can escape the wrath of the leader as Kim Jong-un’s uncle, Jang Song-thaek found out. Song-thaek was assassinated by firing squad in 2012 for, among other charges, the crime of “dreaming different dreams” to that of Kim Jong-un and the North Korean people.

Well, that should make you rest easy.

Brian and Lorraine present The Breakfast BLT on Tipp FM, weekdays from 6 to 9am.

more courts articles

Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van
Man in court over alleged false imprisonment of woman Man in court over alleged false imprisonment of woman
Coronation Street actor William Roache (91) given three months to settle tax debt Coronation Street actor William Roache (91) given three months to settle tax debt

More in this section

Smartwatch with health app. Glowing neon icon on brick wall background Health watch: How much health data is healthy? 
Cork's wild salmon warrior Sally Ferns Barnes looks to the future Cork's wild salmon warrior Sally Ferns Barnes looks to the future
(C)2024 Disney. Disneyland Paris – Disneyland Hotel Re-Opening Watch: Iconic Disneyland Paris hotel re-opens after two year renovation
ieParenting Logo
Writers ieParenting

Our team of experts are on hand to offer advice and answer your questions here

Your digital cookbook

ieStyle Live 2021 Logo
ieStyle Live 2021 Logo

IE Logo
Outdoor Trails

Discover the great outdoors on Ireland's best walking trails

IE Logo
Outdoor Trails

Lifestyle
Newsletter

The best food, health, entertainment and lifestyle content from the Irish Examiner, direct to your inbox.

Sign up
Cookie Policy Privacy Policy Brand Safety FAQ Help Contact Us Terms and Conditions

© Examiner Echo Group Limited