Gérard Depardieu, the enfant terrible of French cinema, has been spotted in the North Korean capital Pyongyang hours before the 70th anniversary of the country's birth.

Journalists noticed the iconic actor in the Yangakdo hotel for tourists in the biggest city of the Communist state, which is due to mark its “Day of the Foundation of the Republic” on Sunday.

A major military parade, huge rallies and the return of iconic “mass games” are expected.

It is not known whether Mr Depardieu will take part in the festivities or is a guest.

Visibly irked at being identified, the star of Green Card, Jean de Florette and Cyrano de Bergerac refused to speak to media.

He declined to give any interviews to AFP journalists present, and was filmed saying: “I don’t want journalists.” BFM TV also identified a French friend of the actor, Yann Moix, a novelist and outspoken radio and TV editorialist.

Oliver Hotham, managing editor of NK News managing editor and present at the hotel, tweeted that Mr Depardieu had “refused to allow photos and one of his dudes said ‘you’ll have a bad time’ if I persisted in trying to get a quote from him”.

However, he did grant a selfie to a member of a Turkish “friendship” delegation at the airport.