North Korea’s recent flurry of ballistic missile launches is in danger of being overshadowed by a potentially more disturbing rumour: the reclusive state’s young men have reportedly been instructed to copy Kim Jong-un’s haircut.
Pyongyang has apparently issued state-sanctioned guidelines dictating that men — in particular those studying at universities — should have the same haircut as their young leader, according to a string of media reports.
Kim has long been renowned for his distinct hairstyle, dubbed in the past the “youth” or “ambition” cut. The look consists of shaved back and side with long hair at the top slicked into a centre parting.
The order for all young men to copy Kim’s haircut was issued two weeks ago by Pyongyang, according to reports on Radio Free Asia, with one source stating: “Our leader’s haircut is very particular, if you will. It doesn’t always go with everyone since everyone has different face and head shapes.”
Further concern surrounding the aesthetics of the newly mandated haircut were echoed in the Korea Times, with one unnamed former Pyongyang resident now residing in China telling the paper: “Until the mid-2000s, we called it the Chinese smuggler haircut”, Telegraph informs.
