BEIJING: The Chinese Communist Party’s official mouthpiece yesterday deleted a story that North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un had been named 2012’s “Sexiest Man Alive” after it fell for a spoof by a US website.
The People’s Daily Online ran gushing quotes from satirical site The Onion about the “Pyongyang-bred heartthrob” in Chinese and English as world news, along with a 55-image gallery opening with Kim astride a horse.
But after gleeful users of Twitter -- which is blocked in China -- pointed out the error, the pages were taken down yesterday morning.
They had made no mention of satire and lifted the The Onion’s comments: “With his devastatingly handsome, round face, his boyish charm, and his strong, sturdy frame, this Pyongyang-bred heartthrob is every woman’s dream come true.
“Blessed with an air of power that masks an unmistakable cute, cuddly side, Kim made this newspaper’s editorial board swoon with his impeccable fashion sense, chic short hairstyle, and, of course, that famous smile.”
The printed edition of the People’s Daily, which has different editorial priorities from the website, did not carry the report.
No official comment could be obtained from the People’s Daily yesterday, but Twitter users poked fun at it.
AFP
