Kim Jong-un didn't have his ex-girlfriend machine-gunned to death

YouTube/North Korea

Kim Jong-un didn't have his ex-girlfriend machine-gunned to death
(Image credit: YouTube/North Korea)

Last August, the world learned that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un had ordered the execution of pop star Hyon Song-wol, a reputed former girlfriend, and 11 other popular performers for making pornographic videos; their bandmates and loved ones were forced to watch the machine-gun firing squad carry out the order, before being shipped off to prison camps themselves. Or not.

On Friday, Hyon appeared on national television to laud "the heavenly trust and warm care of the Dear Marshal," Kim. Her speech is in Korean, but you can watch it yourself.

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.