Giant at Kim Jong Il's Funeral?
- 12 years ago
For more news and videos visit ☛ http://english.ntdtv.com
Follow us on Twitter ☛ http://twitter.com/NTDTelevision
Add us on Facebook ☛ http://on.fb.me/s5KV2C
A photo of a "giant" standing in the crowd at the funeral of Korean leader Kim Jong Il has the internet in a frenzy.
The tall mystery man at Kim Jong Il's funeral may be former NBA prospect Ri "Michael" Myung Hun.
Images of what appeared to be a giant soldier attending the snowy funeral procession of Kim Jong Il prompted worldwide speculation on the Internet of a poor Photoshop job or perhaps the creation of a new generation of giant warrior.
One of the mystery's more likely answers was that the figure towering over a large contingent of soldiers was former North Korean basketball star Ri Myung Hun.
Ri, estimated to be 7'8", was known as Michael Ri when he was based in Ottawa, Canada in the late 90's where he mounted a bid to join the NBA.
Ri's westernized name was a tribute to his favorite NBA player Michael Jordan.
His dream to play in the NBA collapsed when the U.S. State Department ruled that he could only play in the U.S. if his salary was not passed on to the North Korean government. The North Koreans would not agree to the conditions and Ri was whisked back home.
One of Ri's last appearances outside North Korea was as a member of North Korea's basketball team at the Asian Games in Busan, South Korea where his team finished out of medal contention.
Ri, who was born in 1967, would currently be 44 years of age.
Follow us on Twitter ☛ http://twitter.com/NTDTelevision
Add us on Facebook ☛ http://on.fb.me/s5KV2C
A photo of a "giant" standing in the crowd at the funeral of Korean leader Kim Jong Il has the internet in a frenzy.
The tall mystery man at Kim Jong Il's funeral may be former NBA prospect Ri "Michael" Myung Hun.
Images of what appeared to be a giant soldier attending the snowy funeral procession of Kim Jong Il prompted worldwide speculation on the Internet of a poor Photoshop job or perhaps the creation of a new generation of giant warrior.
One of the mystery's more likely answers was that the figure towering over a large contingent of soldiers was former North Korean basketball star Ri Myung Hun.
Ri, estimated to be 7'8", was known as Michael Ri when he was based in Ottawa, Canada in the late 90's where he mounted a bid to join the NBA.
Ri's westernized name was a tribute to his favorite NBA player Michael Jordan.
His dream to play in the NBA collapsed when the U.S. State Department ruled that he could only play in the U.S. if his salary was not passed on to the North Korean government. The North Koreans would not agree to the conditions and Ri was whisked back home.
One of Ri's last appearances outside North Korea was as a member of North Korea's basketball team at the Asian Games in Busan, South Korea where his team finished out of medal contention.
Ri, who was born in 1967, would currently be 44 years of age.