North Korea Is Telling Its Citizens That Their Team Is In The World Cup Final

North Korea is telling its people that their men’s national team is in the World Cup Final:

We’ve known for a long time now that supreme leader Kim Jong-un controls the flow of information to his people, with the television channels only reporting positive stuff about the country.

But in a report posted on YouTube, the media have been caught broadcasting that North Korea are on course to win the biggest prize in football, despite not actually qualifying for the World Cup.

The report says North Korea’s brave side crushed Japan 7-0, USA 4-0 and China 2-0 in the group stages, before going on to reach the final… against Portugal.

Of course, the real final, which takes place this Sunday, is between Germany and Argentina.

Here’s the video. You can get a rough translation by turning on captions and using YouTube’s translate caption feature:

This is yet another example of just how pervasive the Kim dictatorship is, and just how hard it will likely be to integrate this nation into the real world when that regime finally falls.

FILED UNDER: Asia, , , , , , , , ,
Doug Mataconis
About Doug Mataconis
Doug Mataconis held a B.A. in Political Science from Rutgers University and J.D. from George Mason University School of Law. He joined the staff of OTB in May 2010 and contributed a staggering 16,483 posts before his retirement in January 2020. He passed far too young in July 2021.

Comments

  1. Scott O says:

    In fairness most of the intelligence agencies in North Korea are dubious of this claim. Kim is relying upon internal reports, based on statements from a source code named “kickball”.

  2. Liberal Capitalist says:

    Hey… no biggie.

    After all, Bush & Co said that we were invading Iraq because of 9-11.

    Lies happen all the time, pal.

  3. Gustopher says:

    I would bet on the North Koreans in the final — it will be a tough game against Portugal, 4-1?

  4. Lowonprozac says:

    George Bush must be behind this.

  5. DrDaveT says:

    They know better than to say that they beat Brazil by a score of 7-1, scoring 4 goals in a span of 8 minutes in the first half. Nobody would ever believe that this could happen at the World Cup…

  6. DrDaveT says:

    North Korea’s brave side crushed Japan 7-0, USA 4-0 and China 2-0 in the group stages

    This is actually a very revealing barometer of the relative sentiment towards those countries. Japan should be checking their missile defense systems pretty hard.

  7. bill says:

    wow, and the cowboys won the superbowl again…..

  8. OzarkHillbilly says:

    @Liberal Capitalist: Hey downvoters, if you don’t like reading the truth, why don’t you go somewhere else?

  9. epping says:

    well… The clip is fake because :
    1. North Koreans dont use the expression “Fighting”. Its what many south koreans would say. It is a ‘Konglish’, which means made up word from english and korean but makes no sense as north koreans dont use english words especially in their broadcasting
    2. The voice of the Announcer, or reporter is also wrong. shes famours announcer in north korea that she broadcasted most of the important news in north korea for more than 10 years and the voice in the clip isnt her voice.

  10. K says:

    Looks fake. Accent and expressions are very south korean. There are also articles from SK media saying it’s a parody.

  11. elfribo says:

    @Lowonprozac: I think it’s from the text book of the con artist, who conned his way to the Presidency and continues to lie all the way to History, earning the coveted Prize of ” Lie of the Year”

  12. Shane K says:

    You people. Your OWN goddamn SOURCE for this story CLEARLY says “but in a brilliant SPOOF report posted on YouTube…”

    It’s YOUR story that is bullshit.

    Just stop, please.

    sk

  13. Psalmon says:

    And border security in the US has “never been tighter” according to the WH.

  14. Shane K says:

    @OzarkHillbilly:

    Except that it’s not the truth. The source that’s being quoted clearly says that the story is a spoof.

  15. J.P. Travis says:

    @Liberal Capitalist: First time I’ve ever seen a “B-b-b-but, Bush!” reaction to a story about North Korea. Pretty desperate, dude.

  16. JD Cutter says:

    “If you like your plan, you can keep your plan.” I bet the chit stain azz hole in the WH would love to have this kind of control over his wasted retard supporters.

  17. John says:

    Good job… fell for a satire video and story.

  18. James Taggart says:

    @epping: Hahaha classic lolbertarian autism on Doug’s part.

  19. Liberal Capitalist says:

    @OzarkHillbilly:

    @Liberal Capitalist: Hey downvoters, if you don’t like reading the truth, why don’t you go somewhere else?

    You know what I enjoy? The knowledge that the loyal 28% are likely releasing and renewing their IP addresses down in their parent’s basement over-and-over so that they can downvote.

    Never let facts stand in the way of fanatics! 🙂

  20. aaa says:

    2-0 iran wins from N korea
    are dadash

  21. Mr. Mabus says:

    @Liberal Capitalist: Really, can you link me to his state of the union speech where he made the case for war? I think you are a victim of fantasy my not so dear friend.

  22. pylon says:
  23. pylon says:

    Cheney, on the Iraq war: We will have struck a major blow right at the heart of the base, if you will, the geographic base of the terrorists who’ve had us under assault now for many years, but most especially on 9/11.

  24. pylon says:

    Text of a Letter from the President to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate
    March 18, 2003

    Dear Mr. Speaker: (Dear Mr. President: )

    Consistent with section 3(b) of the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 (Public Law 107-243), and based on information available to me, including that in the enclosed document, I determine that:

    (1) reliance by the United States on further diplomatic and other peaceful means alone will neither (A) adequately protect the national security of the United States against the continuing threat posed by Iraq nor (B) likely lead to enforcement of all relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions regarding Iraq; and

    (2) acting pursuant to the Constitution and Public Law 107-243 is consistent with the United States and other countries continuing to take the necessary actions against international terrorists and terrorist organizations, including those nations, organizations, or persons who planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001.

    Sincerely,

    GEORGE W. BUSH

  25. Paul Sorene says:
  26. SkottieG says:
  27. lew says:

    FAKE VIDEO – The North Koreans are actually aloud to watch world cup matches