NORTH Korean men are being ordered to have their hair cut in the same style as leader Kim Jong-un.

The secretive nation has issued an order requiring men to keep their hair no longer than 2cm and cut their hair in a similar fashion to their glorious leader’s much-mocked style, according to The Sun.

They are being instructed to pay homage to Kim by copying his eccentric trademark sweptback bouffant with shaved sides, known in North Korea as the “ambitious” style.

It is said that in the past at least the top of the “ambitious” style could be left longer, but now even the top is cut to 2cm or less.

Young women have been told to adopt a similar style to Kim’s wife Ri Sol-ju in the form of a bob cut. Only performers are apparently allowed to grow their hair long.

Sources inside North Korea say barber shops in the capital Pyongyang are full of people hastily trying to comply for fear of repercussions, with the hairdressing profession reportedly seeing a lucrative boom.

And authorities are so keen to enforce the crackdown on long hair that University students are walking around with scissors and cutting off the hair of offenders, according to Chinese newspaper the Chosun Ibo.

It is said Kim adopted the hair style as it was initially sported by his grandfather Kim Il-sung, the man still revered as the founder of North Korea, as he attempts to build up his own power base since becoming supreme leader in 2011.

It has even been rumoured that Kim Jong-un has undergone plastic surgery to make him resemble his grandfather more closely.

A think-tank source who monitors North Korea said: “Since last year, North Koreans have been ordered to crack down on capitalist ideology and culture.

“The crackdown on long hair seems aimed at getting young people in shape for the seventh general assembly of the Workers Party.”

This story originally appeared in The Sun.