North Korean leader bans televising Tottenham matches over Son Heung-min’s presence

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has reportedly banned Tottenham Hotspur matches from being broadcast in the country due to the presence of South Korean star Son Heung-min.

With Spurs captained by Son Heung-min, North Korea’s strict censorship policies prohibit games involving players from its southern neighbor.

The restriction also extends to Wolverhampton Wanderers and Brentford, which feature South Korean players Hwang Hee-chan and Kim Ji-soo, respectively.

Premier League matches aired in North Korea are typically condensed to 60 minutes and broadcast months after they are played, often before state news bulletins.

Despite tight media control, football remains a rare escape from government propaganda.

According to SunSport, Martyn Williams of the Stimson Center, an independent US think tank that investigated North Korea’s sports broadcasting, noted:

“We just saw a lot of football on KCTV. It’s the main international sport they broadcast.”

The ban means North Korean viewers will miss Spurs’ upcoming match against Manchester United—ironically, a club believed to be favoured by Kim himself.

North Korea has previously aired top European leagues, including the Bundesliga, La Liga, Ligue 1, and Serie A.

However, in 2023, broadcasts were reportedly limited to the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, and World Cup coverage alone.