Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

This Fake Kim Jong Un Got An Icy Reception From North Korean Cheerleaders
NPR ^ | February 14, 2018 | COLIN DWYER

Posted on 02/15/2018 4:29:39 PM PST by nickcarraway

Howard says he just wanted to meet the cheerleaders.

He and the beaming, beautiful North Korean cheering section were both at the women's ice hockey game, watching the unified Korean team take on Japan at the Pyeongchang Winter Games. So, he figured, why not just bop over to where they were sitting in the stands, bringing his own fun-sized unification flag — and his hi-top haircut, his black glasses, and his tasteful bit of girth about the midsection.

So what if he happened to look like Kim Jong Un?

Poor Howard — or, at least, poor man who has represented himself simply as "Howard" to multiple media outlets. Within minutes the man had been kicked out of his second Olympic event in less than a week. As it turns out, it is frowned upon in Pyeongchang to look and dress like North Korea's dictator.

Literally, a number of the cheerleaders frowned upon it. Others looked vaguely peeved. A couple might have giggled behind their hands. One particularly emotive member of the delegation made quite clear she was not on board.

But they didn't have to look at him long. Several men in fur-lined coats quickly jostled him away from the cheerleaders and forced him to sit down elsewhere.

"They shouted something in Korean, I wasn't sure what it was," Howard, who says he's from Australia and lives in Hong Kong, told Yahoo Sports, "and then the police got involved and they dragged me away – they said for my own safety."

Happily, Vincent Bevins of The Washington Post was sitting just a few rows away at the time and caught the jostling in progress.

He was escorted from the stands by a cluster of South Korean policemen, who, once they'd gotten him there, appeared to have no idea what to do with him. They surrounded him, detained him briefly, pulled in a translator and mostly just killed time until they could release Howard at a safe distance from the cheerleaders.

"This is crazy," he said. "What do we have, 10 policemen? What do you think I'm going to do? I don't bring violence. I just want to see the game, so what's the problem?"

The faux Kim leaves the stands escorted by South Korean police and venue staff, now looking rather more nonplussed than his star turn in front of the cheerleaders. Yelim Lee/AFP/Getty Images As we noted, it's not his first time getting bumped from a big event. He and a President Trump impersonator both got booted from the Opening Ceremony by security staff.

But Howard says he comes in peace — and on behalf of the cause of peace. As for his methods, well, he says it's not his fault he looks like Kim.

"My face is too political," Howard told Reuters. "I was born with this face, I've got to live with it."


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: chat
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-24 last
To: nickcarraway

‘Lil Kimmy: “You make funny of Kim!? Make entire world laugh at Kim? You will die! I feed you to my dogs! You die soon!”


21 posted on 02/15/2018 6:30:43 PM PST by bobby.223 (Retired up in the snowy Mountains of the American Redoubt and it's a great life!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: UCANSEE2

“he’s from Australia and lives in Hong Kong,”

Would not be surprised to hear of him getting a face full of VX one day.


22 posted on 02/15/2018 6:32:57 PM PST by Rebelbase ( Hillary, DNC, DOJ and FBI colluded with a British National to influence the 2016 Pres. election)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

Really. What the heck is he thinking? They live in a country run by a homicidal maniac that kills people on a whim. Personally, I think all the attention given to that maniac’s sister will lead to her early and untimely demise.


23 posted on 02/15/2018 8:19:13 PM PST by zeugma (Power without accountability is fertilizer for tyranny.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Rebelbase
Would not be surprised to hear of him getting a face full of VX one day.

Or overdose on a Vegemite Sandwich.

24 posted on 02/16/2018 10:25:59 PM PST by UCANSEE2 (Lost my tagline on Flight MH370. Sorry for the inconvenience.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-24 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson