- Despite their isolation from the rest of the world, North Korea broadcasts Premier League matches for its citizens.
- Their leader, Kim Jong-un, regulates the games they watch and some South Korean footballers have been barred.
- North Koreans watch a fraction of 380 Premier League games in a season, the majority of which are edited to 60 minutes.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has prohibited his country's football fans from watching games of three English Premier League teams.
A 41-year-old sports enthusiast is said to be a huge fan of sports, but unfortunately, his country does not have the right to broadcast Premier League matches.
North Korea has been considered a country that has been largely disconnected from the rest of the world for a long time.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has forbidden the broadcasting of Premier League football matches in the country.
North Korea is one of the most secretive countries globally, yet it has consistently sent athletes to participate in major international sporting events.
According to the 38 North project by the Stimson Center as reported by The Mirror, millions of North Koreans watch Premier League football right before the 5 pm news broadcast.
However, not all matches are allowed, especially those involving players from their arch-rivals South Korea.
As a result, Son Heung-min's Tottenham Hotspur game is not broadcast. Last season, Hwang Hee-chan's Wolverhampton Wanderers and Kim Ji-soo of Brentford were also excluded from coverage.
South Korea was eliminated from the 2022 World Cup by Brazil.
Games are broadcasted on state-controlled KCTV, four months after they are played, so games played in August are watched in January.
It is also reported that North Koreans watched the Premier League, World Cup, and Champions League on KCTV in 2023.
The matches are also shortened to 60 minutes and graphics are superimposed with ones in Korean, as per The Guardian. The report notes that only 21 matches from the 2023/24 season were broadcast on KCTV.
“Most households nowadays seem to have a TV, and KCTV is the most widely received national network, so most households are able to watch.”
North Korea has a strong tradition of producing talented athletes, particularly in martial arts
Kim Jong Un assumed leadership in 2011 following the passing of his father, Kim Jong-il. Under his tenure, North Korea underwent numerous transformations, with significant developments in the sports sector.
He oversaw the development of sports infrastructure, which included a ski resort, a horse riding club, and a football school that has produced talents such as Han Kwang-song, who played in Italy, according to KBS.
North Korea's last appearance in the World Cup was in 2010, marking their second time participating. They suffered defeats in all three matches. They lost 2-1 to Brazil, 7-0 to Portugal, and 3-0 to Ivory Coast.
He also invited NBA legend Dennis Rodman to his country for an exhibition game, as he is a huge basketball enthusiast.
North Korea has also consistently won medals at the Olympics.
A supercomputer has forecasted the winner of the Premier League soccer season.
It was earlier reported that Opta's supercomputer predicted the 2025 Premier League winner following Liverpool's game in hand.
Liverpool's chances of winning the league decreased to 89% while Arsenal's chances of winning increased to 10.9% in the latest Opta simulations