Offbeat | Kim Jong Un impersonator questioned on arrival in Singapore

A Kim Jong Un lookalike was detained and questioned upon his arrival in Singapore on Friday, days before a summit between the North Korean leader and President Donald Trump.

The Hong Kong-based impersonator, who uses the name Howard X, is in the city-state for summit-related promotions by a mall and seafood restaurant.

He said the police officers who stopped him at Singapore’s Changi Airport searched his bags and questioned him for about two hours before letting him go. He said he was told to stay away from Sentosa Island and the Shangri-La Hotel.

Kim and Trump are to meet Tuesday at the Capella Hotel on Sentosa Island and Trump is expected to stay at the Shangri-La during his visit to Singapore.

The impersonator, whose real name is Lee Howard Ho Wun, said police asked if he had been involved in protests around the world, including those by pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong. He said he told them he had been at the scene of Hong Kong demonstrations as a musician playing the drums.

“However, I never rioted and don’t plan to ever riot. I told him [police officer] that I … would never do this in Singapore because it is against your rules to protest,” Lee told The Associated Press.

In a statement, Singapore’s Immigration and Checkpoints Authority said Wun was interviewed for about 45 minutes.

“As part of the immigration clearance process, travelers to Singapore may be subject to additional interviews and/or screening. These procedures are conducted at all Singapore’s checkpoints,” the authority said.

Categories Asia-Pacific