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AS their new Great Leader took office in the motherland far away, officials at North Korea’s bizarre British embassy probably had other things on their minds too.

Like whose turn it was to do the ­hoovering at the London suburban house that has been their home for eight years.

For diplomatic life at 73 Gunnersbury Avenue – where the national flag has been flying in honour of Kim Jong Il – is not so much an Axis Of Evil as an Axis Of Ealing.

The Koreans bought the seven-bedroom home for £1.29million in 2003 when ­diplomatic relations with Britain opened.

It’s down the road from Sid James’ old home and from the start there was a Carry On. The Koreans made it home from home by immediately upsetting their neighbours and Ealing Council after failing to apply for planning permission for change of use.

Nowadays the only signs of life at Number 73 are provided by the regular demonstrators outside, protesting about the lack of human rights and the nuclear posturings of the inhabitants’ nation.

One neighbour, who asked not to be named “in case it upsets them”, said: “There are a dozen or so men in suits who come and go. They’re very quiet but they don’t answer the doorbell.

“If the kids kick the ball over the fence we just have to buy them a new ball.”