Kim Jong-un impersonator fails to impress Olympic cheerleaders

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A Kim Jong-un impersonator gives a thumbs-up to the camera as Korea fans look on angrilyImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

This is the second time that a fake Kim Jong-un has caused a stir at the Winter Olympics

A fake Kim Jong-un did not impress North Korean cheerleaders when he gatecrashed the unified Korea's ice hockey match with Japan.

A man impersonating the North Korean supreme leader danced in front of Pyeongchang cheerleaders, external during their 4-1 defeat.

Pictures seem to suggest that the Pyeongchang 2018 cheerleaders did not see the funny side of things, and Twitter users shared close-ups of some of them looking annoyed, external, while others did their best to ignore him.

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The 230-member cheerleader squad is said to have mesmerised crowds at the Winter Olympics with their matching uniforms and chants.

Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,

The fake Kim Jong-un is taken away by security while some of the cheerleaders attempt to keep watching the match

The imposter was filmed shaking hands with crowd members, external as he was escorted out of the arena by security.

He reportedly told onlookers his name was Howard, and claimed he had not committed any crime by looking like a world leader and cheering a hockey team.

"This is crazy, external," he said to a crowd of security guards and journalists. "What do you think I'm going to do? I haven't been violent."

"I just want to see the game, so what's the problem? I'm about to miss my game," he added.

"Kim" was eventually released by security.

Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,

The impersonator appeared to be a native English speaker

It is unclear whether this is the same lookalike who gatecrashed the Pyeongchang 2018 opening ceremony, external last week with a Donald Trump doppelganger.

And this is not the first controversy that has struck the North Korea cheerleading squad at the Winter Olympics. At an earlier game, they wore masks that were said to resemble their country's former leader Kim Il-sung.

By Tom Gerken, UGC & Social News