Kim Jong-Un Bans Three Premier League Matches from Being Shown in North Korea

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un has reportedly banned the broadcast of Tottenham Hotspur matches in the country due to the presence of South Korean players. According to UK publication The Sun, the decision stems from Jong-Un’s refusal to televise games featuring South Korean footballers.

Tottenham Hotspur, captained by South Korean forward Son Heung-min, is the latest team to be affected by this restriction. The ban means that Jong-Un himself will be unable to watch Tottenham’s upcoming clash with Manchester United, a club he is known to support.

This is not the first instance of such a restriction in North Korea’s football coverage. Last year, the country did not air matches featuring Wolverhampton Wanderers due to their South Korean striker Hwang Hee-chan. Similarly, Brentford games were omitted from broadcasts as they have South Korean defender Kim Ji-soo in their squad.

Football broadcasts in North Korea are heavily edited, with matches being cut down from the standard 90-minute duration to just 60 minutes. The fixtures are also aired months after they are played, often before state news bulletins.