Hermetically-sealed, poverty-stricken North Korea has ranked Chinese people as the world's happiest, while determining that Americans are the most miserable.
The 'Global Happiness Index' report - released in an apparent response to a similar league table produced by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development last week - gives China a perfect score of 100 points, while the USA ranked worst with only three points.
North Korea came second on the list of 203 countries, just two points shy of sharing the top spot, and was closely followed by Cuba, Iran and Venezuela. South Korea was in 152nd place, scoring a meagre 18 points.
The ranking - posted on the country's official Chinese-language website to coincide with Kim Jong-il's visit to China - caused a stir online yesterday, with many jokingly praising the modesty of their insulated neighbour for ranking itself after China.
The Global Times welcomed the result. 'North Koreans are very proud that their country provides them with free housing, food and clothing, and have no need to worry about unemployment,' the paper quoted the report as saying.
However, some web users were more sceptical. 'Is there anyone who would believe such a fake report?' said one commenter on the popular Tianya forum.