"Fake" Kim Jong Un Meets North Korean Cheering Squad at Asian Games, Says "I Will Break North Korea's Brainwashing"

Meeting North Korean Cheerleaders Again at the Asian Games After PyeongChang

"Laughter Makes Fear of Leaders Disappear"

The "fake" Kim Jong Un who drew attention at the PyeongChang Winter Olympics has reappeared at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games venue, 13 years later.

On the 21st, at Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa in Fukuroi, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, during the group stage match between South Korea and North Korea in women's football at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, a man dressed as North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was posing as if launching a 'rocket plush doll' in the spectator stands. Photo by Yonhap News.

This man, who appeared at Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa in Fukuroi, Shizuoka Prefecture on the 21st during the South Korea-North Korea women's football match, introduced himself to Yonhap News under the stage name "Howard X" from Hong Kong.

Sporting the distinctive hairstyle of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and wearing a Mao suit-style top, he drew the attention of not only spectators but also security personnel from the moment he entered the stadium that day.

Howard shared that he had his Kim Jong Un-style haircut done in Japan, asking the salon stylist to carefully replicate Kim's appearance by showing front, side, and rear photographs. When asked if he was satisfied with his hair, he reportedly replied, "It's terrible. Kim Jong Un has a dreadful sense of fashion."

Howard attempted to approach the North Korean cheering section, but was blocked by police concerned about potential conflict. Even while being escorted to another area by the authorities, he waved to the North Korean supporters.

He went on to say, "I wanted to meet the 'North Korean' people living in Japan," adding, "They go to North Korean schools while living here and are brainwashed by all sorts of propaganda and nonsense from North Korea."

In response to criticism that ethnic Koreans in Japan might feel insulted by such a parody of their "Supreme Leader," Howard emphasized, "I'm not here to insult, but to break the mold. People who see me today will look me up on the internet and social media and end up laughing." He added, "That's exactly what we need. When we can laugh at our leaders, all fear disappears."

Having previously appeared in front of the North Korean cheering squad at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, Howard recalled, "Some were outraged at the impersonation, others looked completely shocked, while some actually laughed. It proves that a disguise like this can break through brainwashing."

He also argued that, just as Russia and Belarus have been restricted from participating in competitions since the invasion of Ukraine, North Korea—having sent troops to the same war—should face the same sanctions and be barred from international sporting events.

"Kim Jong Un is sending troops to Russia and killing Ukrainians," he said, adding, "North Korea should be expelled from international sporting events."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.