North Korea recently banned suicide in the country. As bizarre as it sounds, there is more to hear. North Korea has various laws that sound laughable but weird at the same time. In this article, we will discuss 10 of them.
In reaction to a dramatic increase in the reported numbers. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has ordered local officials to enact a suicide ban. He added the act of suicide equals the act of treason that will have capital punishment. North Korea also clarifies that failing in a suicidal act can take you to execution, as it is against government laws.
Sounds hilarious! but there are so many other laws and restrictions in the country that can make you laugh. North Korea has a history of brutality and barbary, however, they are turning their country into a prison by imposing such laws. Today we will discuss some of them.
Caste System
The caste system is not a thing of the past. The practice is very much alive in North Korea. People are classified into three main castes where the “core” class is reserved for the country’s elite ones, including Kim Jong-UN and his relatives.
The second class is the “wavering” class, where most of the country’s residents fall — from the families of artisans to the shopkeepers, from intellectuals to other traders.
The last class is termed the “hostile” class, where people deemed undesirable by the government fall. These people are considered enemies of the estate, and interestingly, lawyers, landlords, and Christian ministers fall under this ladder.
Also Read: South Korea is Going to Get 2 years Youngers
This caste division is a result of the bitter Korean War of the 1950s. If you wonder about the significance of caste of the citizen’s status, then both factors are directly proportional. Moreover, One’s caste in North Korea determines how much one can move across the restrictive regime.
Foreign movies, songs not allowed
Watching foreign movies or listening to foreign music can send North Korean citizens to jail. In 2015, North Korea’s dictator Kim Jong-un ordered the destruction of all cassette tapes and CDs that had state-banned songs in order to contain dissent. Watching American movies or distributing pornography can lead to the death penalty. There are only three channels on TV in North Korea, and all content is controlled by the government.
Many pop bands like BTS and Blackpink are completely banned here. The government says that due to all these things, Western culture will be encouraged. Moreover, People here will start adopting Western culture and their values will end. The rules of this country are really weird.
Women should go to Labor Alone
Mothers are not allowed to give birth if anyone is around and must go into labour alone. They are not allowed to meet their family or even husband for a week after giving birth. If triplets are born, they are given to the state as there are reportedly concerns over low birth rate in North Korea. They are returned on reaching four years of age.
Government Approved Haircuts
You will not believe that the people of this country cannot even get their haircut because recently the dictator Kim Jong-Un has banned 15 hairstyles in the country. Speaking of which, men have long hair and this includes hair dye. Even one cannot get his hair colored.
North Korean government has 28 official hairstyles approved and all men (10) and women(18) in the country have to follow the same hairstyles as other hairstyles are banned. Spiked hair are exclusively banned because the government thinks it’s rebellious. This North Korea restriction was brought in by the country’s leader Kim Jong-Un in 2013 where he did not include his own hairstyle because he wanted to keep it unique.
Not only that, you can’t even get your nose pierced in this country. However, Girls are only allowed to pierce their ears so that they can wear jewelery. This sounds like a lot of fake news but it is the reality.
North Korea Allow strict tourism
Believe it or not, North Korea allows people to visit their country despite being widely frowned upon by many countries. There’s also quite a few better options available. Still, for those that need to get their fix of North Korean life, tourists must book a tour with a government-accepted company months in advance.
Making International calls is a crime
North Korean citizens can not make international calls as it’s considered a crime there. According to reports, in 2007 a North Korean factory boss was executed by a firing squad in front of 150,000 people after being accused of making international calls on 13 phones he installed in a factory basement.
No religion in North Korea
People of “Juche” religion live in this country who are “Atheist”. Actually “Juche” is not a religion, it is a political ideology, which is followed by about 71%. These people are in the majority and 13% of the people follow the “Chonodism” religion, 1% of people follow the off religion there, 12% people follow “Folk Religion”, 1.5% people are Korean Buddhist and 2% follow Christianity.
Reports from Refugees and non-government organizations coming from North Korea show that the authorities here persecute people of Christian religion a lot. You will not believe if people are seen reading the Bible or if only they are caught in their hands, then the government sentences them to death.
Limited Internet Access
Internet can only be accessed through their intranet, which is called “Kwangmyong” or Bright, launched in 2000. For professional use, only 28 websites may be accessed under government supervision. The list of people with Internet access includes political leaders and their families, students attending elite schools, and the military’s cyber-warfare department. Only state-sanctioned operating system Red Star OS, designed in Korean, is allowed to use and not the standard Windows or Mac. Wi-Fi has been banned from use at all North Korean embassies worldwide.
No iPhones, TVs or laptops from the aforementioned brands for North Koreans! The people of this country know very little about electronics and technology, as the government’s isolation policy hides a lot.
Daily power cuts in North Korea
North Koreans face power cuts every night due to the energy crisis in the country and for using electricity need permission and owning a microwave is illegal.
Students has to pay for everything
School-going children are required to get their desks and chairs, others are forced to do laborious tasks for the government. A student going to school has to pay for their desks and chairs! The fees don’t cover it and the parents have to pay it separately. Parents has to pay for building maintenance and heat bill as well.
