A fake Kim Jong-Un said hi to North Korean cheerleaders, who didn't take it well
Guess someone was going to do it.
A Kim Jong-un impersonator went to greet North Korean cheerleaders at the Winter Olympics, and you can bet it caused quite the stir.
SEE ALSO: Olympics volunteer could not be more unimpressed with winter games
Only identified as Howard, the Australian man of Chinese descent attended the women's ice hockey match between a unified Korean team and Japan on Wednesday.
During the match, he walked over to the group of North Koreans waving a unified Korea flag — only to be pushed aside by a group of apparent DPRK minders.
Suffice it to say, the some of the North Korean cheerleaders weren't so impressed.
This Kim Jong Un impersonator walked in front of the North Korean cheering squad at the Olympics, and boy were they unimpressed https://t.co/ytFEvBGES5 h/t @yoonjung_seo pic.twitter.com/uVsusPRY2r
— Anna Fifield (@annafifield) February 14, 2018
Howard, who lives in Hong Kong, told triple j on Wednesday that three suspected North Korean "heavies" tried to force him out of the arena.
At the united Korea vs Japan womens' hockey game, an apparent Kim Jong-un impersonator starts dancing in front of North Korean cheerleaders. Apparent employees of the DPRK push him aside. He's now sitting nearby giving interviews (in English) pic.twitter.com/PeVJYtri5Y
— Vincent Bevins (@Vinncent) February 14, 2018
Kim Jong Un impersonator now shaking hands as he is escorted out. pic.twitter.com/wou2MLCOrw
— Chelsea Janes (@chelsea_janes) February 14, 2018
"They were kicking me in the shins, these tough guys, and shouting something in Korean really angrily," he told the radio station.
Soon after, Howard said he was surrounded by South Korean policemen who didn't let him leave for his own protection. He was eventually released, but after the game finished.
"They told me they had to detain me for my own safety. I told them look, mate, I didn't break any laws, I didn't make any political statements, I told them I just turned up as a ticket holder. I'm allowed to watch the game like anyone else," he added.
Police have now surrounded and asked the apparent impersonator to come with him, he says his name's Howard, was just cheering and looks like this, and didn't commit any crime. Refuses to go with them. South Korea police apparently unsure what to do pic.twitter.com/pGzvV0ufcq
— Vincent Bevins (@Vinncent) February 14, 2018
It's not the first time Howard has made an appearance at the Winter Olympics. Here he was with a Donald Trump impersonator, Dennis Alan, at the opening ceremony.
Image: RYAN PIERSE / GETTY IMAGES
Despite clearly riling up a country which has no problem with crushing dissidence, Howard isn't worried about finding himself in danger.
"I'm not just a lookalike. I consider myself a satirist. For people that come from countries with freedom of speech, I think it's important to take the piss out [mock] of our leaders," he said.
"The most feared weapon of any dictatorship is satire."
