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Jeremy Blum

North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un will soon enter the interactive realm as the star of his very own tongue-in-cheek video game. 
The game, dubbed Glorious Leader!, is an independent production created by Moneyhorse Games, a small American studio dedicated to serving players with a fondness for retro-style pixels reminiscent of early Nintendo games.
The game is scheduled for release at the end of 2014 on PCs and mobile devices.
Watch: Trailer for Glorious Leader!

A teaser trailer for the game was released this week, showing the Korean leader dashing through a variety of war-torn environments, blasting American tanks with weaponry and even teaming up with Dennis Rodman, the former NBA superstar who once sang "Happy Birthday" to Kim at a North Korean exhibition basketball game.

"The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea commands you to know that the capitalistic pigs at Moneyhorse...are developing Glorious Leader!, an epic tale about the triumph of Kim Jong Un over the entire American army," a cheeky press release for the game reads. "Battle through seven unique levels as you defeat waves of imperialists, combat over-the-top bosses, and ride unicorns!"
According to the Moneyhorse Games Twitter, unicorns will not be the only form of fantastical transport in the game.
Not only will u be able 2 ride a unicorn @Hell_Inc, you will also be able 2 ride a narwhal, a unicorn of the sea! pic.twitter.com/SNaVAkhXZl
	— moneyhorse (@playmoneyhorse) May 10, 2014
In an interview with The Guardian, Moneyhorse Games founder Jeff Miller said that the game was inspired by a fascination with North Korea, and that the game's creators had chosen to present it in a bombastic style in order to "carefully walk the line of satire without being an apologist for the regime". 

"Regarding the subject matter, I want to have fun with this, but also shine light on the truth of the situation," Miller wrote on TIGForums, a video game development message board. "To me, the whole North Korea thing is like a car wreck. I can't look away but I don't know exactly how I can help. I'm hoping to really find my voice on it by making this game."

So far, reaction to the game has been largely positive, with most recognising its parodical nature. 
"This may be the greatest idea for a game in all of history," one user on the TIGForums wrote. "Is it better to deal with awful things by making fun of them, or by treating them with total respect? I don't think either is necessarily better, but I'd suggest there's certainly a place for both. I think there's a lot out there about the real North Korea, and I don't think a pretty ridiculous parody is necessarily a bad thing."
Others were far more vocal in their praise. 
@playmoneyhorse OH MY GOD!!!!!!! I'M KOREAN!!! AND I LOVED YOUR GAME!!! I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!! 짱짱
	— MiRiKan (@The_MiRiKan) May 12, 2014


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Kim Jong-un

Kim Jong-un rides a unicorn and 'defeats waves of imperialists' in his very own video game

Glorious Leader! is intended as a satirical jab at the reclusive Hermit Kingdom. Photo: Moneyhorse Games 

The "imperialist" troops of America serve as the game's enemies. Photo: Moneyhorse Games

Supreme leader Kim Jong-un apparently prefers flaming unicorns over horses. Photo: Moneyhorse Games

Players will be able to control Dennis Rodman alongside Kim in the game. Photo: Moneyhorse Games

Rodman arrives for Kim’s birthday game; reveals death threats over North Korea visits

Dennis Rodman arrives at a hotel in Pyongyang. Photo: AP

The ex-NBA star reaches for a bottle of vodka after he arrives at a hotel in Pyongyang. Photo: AP

Dennis Rodman huddles with North Korean basketball players and fellow former NBA stars at a practice session on Tuesday. Photo: AP

Lifestyle

Tech

'Glorious Leader!', a tongue-in-cheek game starring the North Korean ruler, is scheduled for release later this year


Kim Jong-un rides a unicorn and 'defeats waves of imperialists' in his very own video game

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}'Glorious Leader!', a tongue-in-cheek game starring the North Korean ruler, is scheduled for release later this year

'Glorious Leader!', a tongue-in-cheek game starring the North Korean ruler, is scheduled for release later this year