TIME

China Has Unblocked Internet Searches That Refer to Kim Jong Un as a ‘Pig’

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un meets scientists and technicians in the field of researches into nuclear weapons
KCNA/Reuters North Korean leader Kim Jong Un meets scientists and technicians in the field of research into nuclear weapons in this undated photo released by the country's Korean Central News Agency in Pyongyang on March 9, 2016

Experts say it may be a sign of China's displeasure with Kim's nuclear buildup

China appears to have made an exception within its extremely restricted Internet this week, for an unusual search term — a reference to North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un as a “third-generation pig.”

China’s online filters originally blocked the derogatory moniker commonly used by Chinese netizens for Kim, but requests for it on the country’s largest search engine Baidu were producing results as of Wednesday, the Korea Times said, citing a report by South Korean news agency Yonhap.

Although the two East Asian nations have long been allies, China this week joined stricter U.N. sanctions on North Korea following the latter’s alleged nuclear-missile tests. According to the Korea Times, experts say the unblocking of the insult to Kim may be a sign of China’s displeasure over his country’s weapons program.

[Korea Times]

Tap to read full story

Your browser is out of date. Please update your browser at http://update.microsoft.com


YOU BROKE TIME.COM!

Dear TIME Reader,

As a regular visitor to TIME.com, we are sure you enjoy all the great journalism created by our editors and reporters. Great journalism has great value, and it costs money to make it. One of the main ways we cover our costs is through advertising.

The use of software that blocks ads limits our ability to provide you with the journalism you enjoy. Consider turning your Ad Blocker off so that we can continue to provide the world class journalism you have become accustomed to.

The TIME Team