'Sexy Kim Jong-Un' Spoof Fools Chinese Paper

The Chinese Communist Party's official newspaper appears to have fallen for a spoof by a US satirical website.

An article in The Onion last month declared North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un to be the "Sexiest Man Alive For 2012".

"With his devastatingly handsome, round face, his boyish charm, and his strong, sturdy frame, this Pyongyang-bred heartthrob is every woman's dream come true," the spoof article read.

"Blessed with an air of power that masks an unmistakable cute, cuddly side, Kim made this newspaper's editorial board swoon with his impeccable fashion sense, chic short hairstyle, and, of course, that famous smile."

However, The People's Daily appears to have taken it all rather too seriously.

In their English and Chinese editions, the newspaper not only quoted The Onion and its editor but also ran a 55-page photo special - a dedicated slideshow of the North Korean leader.

"He has that rare ability to somehow be completely adorable and completely macho at the same time," the paper quoted Marissa Blake-Zweiber, editor of The Onion Style and Entertainment as saying.

Responding to the People's Daily report, The Onion has now updated its own article: "For more coverage, please visit our friends at the People's Daily in China, a proud Communist subsidiary of The Onion, Inc. Exemplary reportage, comrades."

The Onion has a history of fooling unsuspecting overseas news outlets.

In September, Iran's Fars News Agency published a made-up poll from The Onion that claimed many Americans preferred Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to President Barack Obama .