North Korea's leaders come up with a fashion regime

The secretive, downright paranoid nature of the North Korean state and the behaviour of its leaders have led to some hearty jokes. The communist country does, after all, provide some room for generating political humour. Lesser known, however, are some of the more bizarre ‘facts’ and myths that are built around the North Korean state and its line of rulers.

Current ruler Kim Jong Il, in fact, features prominently in this propaganda drive. State media and gossip would have us believe, for instance, that when the Great Leader was born, the seasons changed immediately and attendant rainbows shimmered forth on the horizon. The people in the country, reportedly battling daily famine and hunger, are also apparently told that their leader is undoubtedly the most important person on the global political firmament and that his heaven-blessed birthday is celebrated throughout the world.

The hapless citizens are also informed that their great and beloved and cherished leader is something of a superman when it comes to golf — sinking holes in one is, apparently, well, par for the course for him. But then, what do you expect from a regime that, if reports are to be believed, once circulated pamphlets announcing that a miracle drug had been invented that would ‘cure’ short and disabled people. And those unfortunate enough to respond to the pamphlet were promptly deported to some faraway islands.

The North Korean rumour mill also has it that Kim Jong Il is a fashion icon. Which title is now being transferred to his son and heir-apparent Kim Jong-un. Reports say the chubby lad’s slick, trimmed-above-the-ears haircut is now being mimicked by countless youths in Pyongyang, called as it is ‘the ambition’ hairstyle. All of which, of course, leaves one with rather little to say.