The English Premier League is perhaps the most recognised domestic footballing competition in the world, and it could soon be shown in one of the most unexpected countries in the world: North Korea.
In a development that has stunned global football fans, the country has reportedly agreed to air English Premier League matches for the first time in its history — but only under a tightly controlled, heavily edited format approved by Kim Jong-un’s government.
Reports from The Guardian and the specialist outlet 38 North confirm that Pyongyang has officially moved ahead with the long-discussed plan, months after the initial proposal surfaced back in April. This time, the decision appears final — and the list of restrictions is even more revealing of the regime’s cultural isolation.
At the centre of the move is Pyongyang’s insistence on excluding any content linked to South Korea. That means matches featuring South Korean players simply will not be aired. Stars like Brentford’s Kim Ji-soo and Wolves forward Hwang Hee-chan will vanish entirely from the North Korean broadcast slate, reflecting the deep political tensions between the two nations.
Meanwhile, no Premier League game will be shown live. Every match must go through a rigorous pre-broadcast editing process, ensuring the state has complete control over what its citizens are allowed to see.
North Korea’s version of the Premier League will not resemble the global product. Under Kim’s instructions:
- Matches shortened to 60 minutes, stripping out large chunks of gameplay and altering the natural flow.
- All visible English text — from advertising boards to stadium signage — replaced with North Korean graphics.
- Any LGBTQ+ symbols or rainbow imagery removed from the footage.
Despite the rigid conditions, the move marks a rare opening in North Korea’s media landscape. For the first time ever, local football fans will get a chance to watch the Premier League, even if the version they see is tightly reshaped to fit the regime’s worldview.
For global audiences, the idea of a 60-minute Premier League match stripped of players, signs, and symbols might seem unthinkable. But inside North Korea, it signals a carefully managed step towards allowing controlled foreign entertainment — and a reminder that even the world’s most popular sport must ultimately conform to the state’s narrative.
