The world is always in awe of North Korea. Despite the fact that this country is closed to ordinary tourists, and you are unlikely to see a photo from thereon Instagram, nevertheless, sometimes interesting information about this country does get out.
Given the amount of horrible laws, it is not surprising that the nation is regarded as the most closed. The state denies its people their basic rights and imposes bizarre totalitarian regulations on them. We previously told you about the stringent regulations Kim Jong-un’s wife must abide by. This time, we’ve brought to light a few strange laws in North Korea that you may not be aware of:
1. Foreign movies, songs not allowed
North Koreans are Not allowed to watch foreign movies/films and listen, play music from other countries foreign songs. North Korean nationals risk imprisonment for viewing foreign films or listening to foreign music. To quell dissent, North Korea’s autocrat Kim Jong-un ordered in 2015 that all CDs and cassette tapes containing songs that the country had outlawed be destroyed. The death penalty may apply for viewing American films or disseminating pornographic material. In North Korea, there are just three TV channels, and the government controls all the content.
2. Making International calls is a crime
Making International calls is a crime and can lead to death penalty in North Korea. North Korean citizens can not make international calls as it’s considered a crime there. A North Korean factory boss was reportedly accused of making international calls on 13 phones she installed in a factory basement, and she was executed by firing squad in front of 150,000 people in 2007.
3. Disloyalty to the leader is punishable by death.
Falling asleep during a meeting with Kim Jong-un is considered disloyalty to the leader and may also lead to the death penalty. According to reports, in 2015, North Korea’s Détente Minister Hyon Yong-cool was gunned down by an anti-aircraft fire in front of 100people for behavior such as falling asleep in Kim Jong-un‘s presence.
4. Three-generation punishment in North Korea
If a person commits a crime in North Korea, their parents, grandparents, and children will also be punished. This terrible law was designed to prevent prisoners from escaping.
5. Only government-approved haircuts
There are only 28 government-approved haircuts (18 for women and 10 for men); other hairstyles are forbidden for both sexes. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un introduced this law in 2013 and did not include his hairstyle on this list because he wanted to keep it unique and absolutely no one can dare to copy his hairstyle. It is assumed that married women should wear shorter haircuts than unmarried women
6. Own basketball rules
The basketball games have been modified by the North Korean government. For example, a slam-dunk is worth 3 points, not 2, 2-point shots in the last three minutes of the game airworthy 8 points. In addition, if you miss 3 shots, a point is deducted.
7. Permission needed to live in the National capital
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un wants only the most successful, wealthy and influential people to live in North Korea’s Pyongyang. For someone to reside in the capital, they need special permission.
8. In North Korea, students must provide their own desks and chairs.
The cost of the desks and chairs in the classroom is covered by the students! School tuition does not pay for this.
9. Bible is banned
Because the Bible has the power to transform people, it is forbidden in North Korea because it is seen as a symbol of Western culture. While sharing the Bible, a Christian woman was apprehended and put to death. When Jeffrey Fowl, an American citizen touring North Korea in 2014, realized he had left the Bible in the restaurant‘s lavatory at the Chongj in Sailor’s Club, he was arrested and held for five months.
10. No iPhones or laptops
For North Koreans, none of the previously mentioned brands‘ laptops, TVs, or iPhones! Because of the government’s isolationist stance, which conceals a lot, the people of this nation know very little about electronics and technology.
11. Strict customs rules
If you are a visitor, customs will first examine all of your written, visual, and musical works before allowing you entry.
12. Prison camps
It is believed that about 200,000 North Koreans live in the camps. They were arrested for alleged political crimes. If a person commits a political crime, his entire family is interned. It is a prisoner manages to escape, his entire family would be killed. 40% of prisoners interned in these concentration camps die from malnutrition. Many of them are sentenced to hard labor for seemingly reasonable terms, but more often than not they work to death.
13. Different calendar
North Korea has a different calendar called the Juche calendar than the rest of the world. It begins with April 15, 1912, the birthdate of their dear revolutionary leader Kim Il Sung
14. Only one leader to vote in the election
Elections are held in North Korea, and all citizens over the age of 17 are required to participate, though the elections are not totally free. In each election, you only have 1 option. As a result, 100% of Koreans vote for their dear leader.
15. Their sole real leader is Kim Il Sung.
Kim Il Sung, was the first leader of North Korea after the communist revolution, died long ago, he is still considered the country’s leader. That explains why, following the passing of his predecessor, his son and current grandson were able to seize control with such ease.
16. No Marijuana law
Ironically, an extremely conservative country has no drug problems. It is illegal to use, sell, or possess marijuana in North Korea. Nevertheless, marijuana grows along the roads completely freely, therefore, if suddenly someone from the local area wants to take advantage of this opportunity, he can do it completely calmly.
17. Insult to Kim and his family, will be considered blasphemy
Living under Kim Jong-un’s rule, every North Korean is required to swear allegiance to him, his family, and the government. Anything that might be interpreted as a slight against Kim’s family or the North Korean regime is blasphemous and will be dealt with harshly. This applies to both immigrants from North Korea and tourists. Anything that can be considered a threat or insult will lead to imprisonment or even execution.
Many are also familiar with the case of American citizen and student Otto Warm bier, who was visiting a North Korea as part of a guided tour group, arrested at Pyongyang International Airport while awaiting departure from the country after he tried to steal a billboard from his hotel room. In June 2017, Warmbier passed away shortly after being placed in a prison cell, released, and placed in a vegetative state.
18. People Not allowed to leave the country
You might be wondering why North Koreans stay put in the face of such harsh laws. And they can’t. Any North Korean citizen is prohibited from leaving the country, and anyone who crosses the border without officiaocuments will be shot by guards. The most severe punishment exists for those who try to escape or hide from Kim’s totalitarian rule, and it is almost certainly always death.
19. Strict rules for tourists
Any tourist who enters the country is closely monitored by the North Korean government throughout the trip. A guide is assigned to each tourist and stays with him the entire time. If someone leaves their group or tries to talk to a local, they will be arrested. Along with this, tourists are taken only to certain places and along certain routes.
20. Military service is compulsory
Military service is compulsory for all North Koreans. 10 years for men and / years for
women.
21. Power cut every night
Due to the nation’s energy crisis, North Koreans experience nightly power outages, require authorization to use electricity, and are prohibited from owning microwaves.
