North Korea's CRAZIEST Laws

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North Korea is a secretive country with harsh laws and strict control under Kim Jong-Un, including banning certain behaviors like napping during military rallies and wearing jeans as part of an anti-Western stance. The regime enforces restrictions on various aspects of daily life, such as hairstyles, property ownership, and even smiling on specific dates, maintaining control over its citizens through tight regulations and severe consequences for disobedience.

Insights

  • North Korea's strict control extends to various aspects of daily life, including dress codes, property ownership, and even the ability to smile on specific dates, showcasing the pervasive reach of the government into citizens' personal lives.
  • The regime in North Korea enforces a cult of personality around the ruling Kim family, with severe consequences for any form of dissent or disrespect towards the leadership, highlighting the authoritarian nature of the government and the extreme measures taken to maintain control over the population.

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Recent questions

  • Why are bicycles banned in Pyongyang?

    Bicycles were initially banned in Pyongyang to promote motorized transportation as part of a modernization effort. However, the economic collapse in North Korea led to the ban being lifted in 1992. Later, women were banned from riding bikes due to being deemed genetically incapable and suggestive, reflecting the strict and often arbitrary regulations imposed by the North Korean government.

  • What is the reason behind Kim Jong-Un's ban on jeans?

    Kim Jong-Un banned jeans in mid-2020 as part of a crackdown on Western influences in North Korea. This ban reflects the country's anti-Western stance since the division of Korea in 1945 and the regime's efforts to maintain control over the cultural influences that reach its citizens.

  • How does North Korea control property ownership?

    Property ownership in North Korea is controlled by the state, with citizens being assigned housing by the government. Individuals need government permission to live in the capital city, Pyongyang, showcasing the strict regulations and control exerted by the North Korean government over its citizens' living arrangements.

  • Why did Kim Jong-Un make it illegal for North Koreans to share his name?

    Kim Jong-Un made it illegal for all North Koreans to share his name in 2011 to maintain his unique identity and prevent any potential challenges to his authority. This move reflects the extreme measures taken by the North Korean regime to ensure the supremacy and distinctiveness of its leadership.

  • How does North Korea enforce restrictions on internet access?

    North Korea restricts internet access for its citizens and provides an intranet called Kwangmyong with limited websites. While certain state officials have access to a few websites on the wider internet, the general population is heavily monitored and restricted in terms of online information and communication.

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Summary

00:00

North Korea's Extreme Laws and Restrictions

  • North Korea, known as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, is shrouded in mystery due to its isolation and extreme laws under the dictatorship of Supreme Leader Kim Jong-Un.
  • Minister of Defence Hyon Yong-chol was executed in public for napping during military rallies, showcasing the severe consequences of laziness and insubordination.
  • Bicycles were banned in Pyongyang to promote motorized transportation, but the economic collapse led to the ban being lifted in 1992, with women later being banned from riding bikes due to being deemed genetically incapable and suggestive.
  • Kim Jong-Un banned jeans in mid-2020 as part of a crackdown on Western influences, reflecting the country's anti-Western stance since the division of Korea in 1945.
  • North Korea enforces strict regulations on hairstyles, with only approved styles allowed, and men facing restrictions on hair length, requiring frequent haircuts.
  • Kim Jong-Un made it illegal for all North Koreans to share his name, forcing many to change their names in 2011, aiming to maintain his unique identity.
  • North Korea's strict control extends to cell phone usage, with international calls being prohibited to prevent outside influences and maintain government control over information.
  • Property ownership in North Korea is controlled by the state, with citizens assigned housing and needing government permission to live in the capital city, Pyongyang.
  • North Koreans are forbidden from smiling on July 8th each year, the death anniversary of former president Kim Il-Sung, with violations leading to severe consequences.
  • North Korea restricts internet access, providing an intranet called Kwangmyong with limited websites, while certain state officials have access to a few websites on the wider internet.

14:50

Life in North Korea: Government Control and Restrictions

  • In North Korea, the government assigns jobs to high school graduates without considering their preferences, unless bribes are involved.
  • Kim Jong-Il relocated thousands of graduates to become potato farmers in Ryanggang due to a surplus of potatoes and few residents in Taehongdan-gun.
  • Freedom of religion is restricted in North Korea, with an atheist majority and state-operated churches filled with propaganda.
  • Triplets are considered lucky in North Korea and are taken away by the state at birth, only returned to their parents at age four.
  • North Korea enforces a three-generation sentence, punishing entire families for one member's crime, dating back to post-World War II.
  • North Korea uses the Juche calendar, starting from Kim Il-Sung's birth in 1912, with no history before that date acknowledged.
  • North Korea severely punishes any disrespect towards the Kim family, including minor jokes or lack of care for their portraits.
  • North Korea restricts media to four state-owned TV channels, banning foreign content and punishing possession of prohibited media.
  • North Korea prohibits Western brands like Coca-Cola and McDonald's, relying on traditional foods due to economic sanctions, despite elite access to luxury Western brands.
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