In which I contribute to the volume of nonsense on the internet

 

This photo from the Wapo this morning reminded me of one of my minor obsessions: why do some armies make soldiers wear ridiculous oversized hats when formally dressed? 

 

This seems more common in Asian militaries, though I'm sure there are European-origin examples. 

Here's a fine North Korean specimen:

Someone named Steven Costa opines:

It’s an adaptation of the old Soviet Red Army service cap. It was a joke in the Soviet Red Army too, soldiers referred to it as the “SS hat” as it resembled the Nazi visor caps of World War II. The North Koreans exaggerated this hat further, enlarging the crown to ridiculous heights. ...

Maybe true. Good story for the inquisitive anyway.