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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
Justin McCurry in Tokyo

Delays, edits, and no Son Heung-min: how North Korea watches the Premier League

KCTV advertises Premier League coverage in its daily programming schedule.
KCTV advertises Premier League coverage in its daily programming schedule. Photograph: Courtesy of 38 North

TV viewers in North Korea have to endure more than their fair share of war films – in which there can be only one victor, news reports delivered with revolutionary gusto and breathless Kim dynasty propaganda.

But even for a country as wary of outside influences as North Korea, it appears unable to resist the lure of Premier League football – the most-watched sport on the nation’s TV screens. Just don’t expect to see any live action, let alone Gary Lineker presenting in his underpants.

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