Warning: The following story may not be true. But when did that ever stop anyone writing about North Korea? Hey, it’s a great tale. And it might be true, though as yet we lack proof.

The source is kosher. As many readers will know, JoongAng Daily is the English edition of the JoongAng Ilbo, Seoul’s leading newspaper. (In South Korea the print version is sold with the International New York Times. So we are talking respectable here, not tabloid.)