North Korea to John Kerry: You’re a Hideous Wolf
Are North Korea’s propagandists finally getting better at crafting their metaphors? In a statement published Wednesday, a spokesperson for the North Korean defense commission insulted Secretary of State John Kerry by insinuating that he is unattractive. According to the Associated Press, the spokesperson ridiculed Kerry as a wolf with a “hideous lantern jaw.” The American ...
Are North Korea's propagandists finally getting better at crafting their metaphors?
In a statement published Wednesday, a spokesperson for the North Korean defense commission insulted Secretary of State John Kerry by insinuating that he is unattractive. According to the Associated Press, the spokesperson ridiculed Kerry as a wolf with a "hideous lantern jaw." The American diplomat was also described as a wolf in sheep's clothing.
The North Korean denunciation of Kerry's jawline comes on the heels of his comments in Hawaii about the need to continue to promote human rights in East Asia. In the statement, Pyongyang denounced these efforts. "His behaviour fully revealed once again the U.S. inveterate nature as a hypocrite who has deceived and mocked mankind with all sorts of gimmicks," the spokesperson said, referring to Kerry. The statement only ran in the state-run Korean Central News Agency's Korean-language version, indicating it was in all likelihood aimed at whipping up patriotic fervor against the United States.
Are North Korea’s propagandists finally getting better at crafting their metaphors?
In a statement published Wednesday, a spokesperson for the North Korean defense commission insulted Secretary of State John Kerry by insinuating that he is unattractive. According to the Associated Press, the spokesperson ridiculed Kerry as a wolf with a “hideous lantern jaw.” The American diplomat was also described as a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
The North Korean denunciation of Kerry’s jawline comes on the heels of his comments in Hawaii about the need to continue to promote human rights in East Asia. In the statement, Pyongyang denounced these efforts. “His behaviour fully revealed once again the U.S. inveterate nature as a hypocrite who has deceived and mocked mankind with all sorts of gimmicks,” the spokesperson said, referring to Kerry. The statement only ran in the state-run Korean Central News Agency’s Korean-language version, indicating it was in all likelihood aimed at whipping up patriotic fervor against the United States.
Statements like these are a dime a dozen from North Korea’s propagandists, who recently called President Barack Obama a “wicked black monkey” and said South Korean President Park Geun-hye is “no more than an old prostitute coquetting with outside forces.” But this time, Pyongyang at least stumbled on a suitable metaphor for the incendiary rhetoric.
Those generous jowls and that gray hair do have a vaguely lupine quality.
More from Foreign Policy


Is Cold War Inevitable?
A new biography of George Kennan, the father of containment, raises questions about whether the old Cold War—and the emerging one with China—could have been avoided.


So You Want to Buy an Ambassadorship
The United States is the only Western government that routinely rewards mega-donors with top diplomatic posts.


Can China Pull Off Its Charm Offensive?
Why Beijing’s foreign-policy reset will—or won’t—work out.


Turkey’s Problem Isn’t Sweden. It’s the United States.
Erdogan has focused on Stockholm’s stance toward Kurdish exile groups, but Ankara’s real demand is the end of U.S. support for Kurds in Syria.