'He is scared' North Korean footballer, 19, linked with SPURS and 'Kim is WATCHING'

STRIKER Han Kwang-song is lighting up Italy’s second division with a potential move to Spurs on the cards – but Kim Jong-un is keeping an eye on the lad.

By Douglas Patient /

Dictator Kim Jong-un is reportedly taking a keen interest in the 19-year-old Pyongyang-born player who already has two international caps for the hermit state.

Han has scored seven goals for Perugia in 17 appearances in Serie B – Italy’s second division.

According to reports in Italy, both Tottenham Hotspur and Italian league champions Juventus want to prise the striker, contracted to Cagliari, away.

This comes as back in North Korea satellite images show it may be on brink of another test.

Han Kwang-song and Kim Jong-un GETTY

GLORY: Kim Jong-un reportedly is keeping a keen eye on Han Kwang-song

“He is scared”

Massimiliano Santopadre

The move to Spurs would be complicated by the presence of South Korean player Son Heung-min at the club.

Kim is desperate to show that North Korea can be a force in the world and wants to use sport to pursue this.

He has decided to send athletes to sworn enemies South Korea for the Winter Olympics.

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Taking pictures in the DMZ is easy, but if you come too close to the soldiers, they stop you Eric Lafforgue/Exclusivepix Medi
Taking pictures in the DMZ is easy, but if you come too close to the soldiers, they stop you

    Han is central to the dictator's plans and he has pinned the nation’s hopes on the young player to fire them to glory.

    North Korea saw Han’s potential from a young age and he was sent to Barcelona’s academy at the tender age of 13.

    He then impressed at the 2015 Under-17 World Cup in Chile with North Korea making it through the group stage.

    19-year-old Han is linked to Spurs and Juventus GETTY

    HOTSHOT: 19-year-old Han is linked to Spurs and Juventus

    Kim is close friends with Italian senator Antonio Razzi – who invited Han to a trial at the prestigious ISM Academy.

    This later resulted in a successful trial at Cagliari.

    He broke into the first-team and became the first North Korean to score in Serie A in just his second appearance.

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    A giant mosaic created by 10,000 North Koreans holding cards at the May Day stadium in Pyongyang, North Korea. Eric Lafforgue / Barcroft Media
    A giant mosaic created by 10,000 North Koreans holding cards at the May Day stadium in Pyongyang, North Korea.

      Han went out on loan to Perugia this season and bagged an incredible four goals in the first two games.

      But the influence in North Korea is not far behind.

      He was invited onto sports show La Domenica Sportiva – but his appearance was mysteriously cancelled just hours before.

      Han attempts a tackle against Parma GETTY

      CHALLENGE: Han attempts a tackle against Parma

      Perugia president Massimiliano Santopadre told La Stampa: “A call from a not very clear ministry figure arrived and it blocked everything.

      “Negotiating was impossible because Pyongyang want to talk only and exclusively with Han.

      “The situation with their government has become even more rigid and their footballers have been prohibited from appearing on TV, otherwise they would have repatriated him. Han is scared.”

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      North Korean cheerleaders warm-up prior to a 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup match AFP/Getty Images
      North Korean cheerleaders warm-up prior to a 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup match

        There are also fears that Han is sending his wages back home to North Korea.

        Laws in the country dictate that the wages of any citizen working outside the national borders belong to their government.

        Cagliari insist Han's wages are being paid directly to him.