Unedited image of Kim Jong Un unleashes Photoshop battles online

Earlier this month, North Korean officials released what appeared to be an unedited photograph of leader Kim Jong Un.

The move was rare as Kim's images are often carefully curated by the North's propaganda machine.

Some analysts reasoned that Pyongyang might be trying to portray North Korea as a "normal" country whose leader, despite being regarded by North Korean citizens as a god-like figure, wasn't vain at all, reported the Washington Post.

What North Korean officials did not expect however, was to unleash a flurry of Photoshop battles among Internet users.

One user noticed that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's nose resembles a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle.

The online community's response was fast and furious, as users flooded social media sites with their hilariously edited photos of Kim.

There are at least three "battles" on Bored Panda, Reddit and Twitter, reported the Huffington Post.

Kim Jong Un as Cartman from South Park. Photo: Bored Panda user Tom 

Users reimagined the North Korean leader as US presidential hopeful Donald Trump, reality star Kim Kardashian, and even Eric Cartman from the animated series South Park.

Needless to say, this is probably not the kind of attention North Korea was hoping to get.

Perhaps next time, Pyongyang will think twice before releasing an unedited photo of Kim Jong Un.

xiuhuil@sph.com.sg