China's People's Daily falls for 'sexy' Kim Jong-un spoof
RICK WALLACE, TOKYO CORRESPONDENT From: The Australian November 29, 2012 
The People's Daily Online reported, apparently in all seriousness, that The Onion had crowned Kim Jong-un, the rogue hermit state's playboy leader, this year's top international heart-throb.
The English-language site, which featured a 55-photo slideshow, quoted the satirical site: "With his devastatingly handsome, round face, his boyish charm, and his strong, sturdy frame this Pyongyang-bred heart-throb 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."
Marissa Blake-Zweiber, editor of The Onion Style and Entertainment, said: "He has that rare ability to somehow be completely adorable and completely macho at the same time."
The Chinese site, effectively an organ of the country's Communist Party, made no suggestion that the story was satirical. The item appeared to have been replaced on the site yesterday.
The credibility of The Onion's report, in the eyes of the People's Daily Online, might have been boosted by the public relations makeover North Korea has embarked upon under Kim Jong-un.In contrast to his more dour and reclusive father, Kim Jong-il, the young leader has allowed himself to be depicted stepping out with his new wife, riding rollercoasters and attending concerts featuring Disney characters. It's safe to say, however, that he remains few people's idea of the sexiest man alive.
The editors at The Onion, a long-running and successful US-based satirical news site, added an update to the original report, saying: "For more coverage on The Onion's Sexiest Man Alive 2012, Kim Jong-un, please visit our friends at the People's Daily in China, a proud Communist subsidiary of The Onion Inc. Exemplary reportage, comrades."
North Korea's state-run news agency, KCNA, normally reports even the smallest item of praise directed towards the regime. But it appears to have been too savvy to fall for The Onion's report.
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