20 NORTH KOREAN LAWS THAT WILL SHOCK YOU

By Novagrace Carganillo Articles Posted 6 months ago 1.94K views

The entire world is constantly in awe of North Korea. Although this country is off limits to ordinary travelers and it is unlikely that you will find a snapshot from there on Instagram, occasionally interesting information about this nation does slip out.

Given the number of horrible laws, it is expected that the nation is regarded as the most closed country. The country denies its citizens' fundamental rights and subjects them to bizarre totalitarian laws.

1.Disloyalty to the leader may result in death penalty.

During a meeting with Kim Jong-un, falling asleep is considered treason to the leader and may result in death penalty. According to sources, North Korea's Defence Minister Hyon Yong-chol was killed by anti-aircraft fire in front of 100 people in 2015 for actions such as falling asleep in the presence of Kim Jong-un.

2.Foreign films and songs are not permitted.

Watching foreign films or listening to foreign music can lead North Koreans in prison. To quell dissent, North Korean ruler Kim Jong-un ordered the destruction of all cassette tapes and CDs containing state-banned songs in 2015. Viewing American films or distributing pornography can result in the death penalty. North Korea has only three television channels, and all content is controlled by the government.

3.It is a crime to make international calls.

North Korean individuals are prohibited from making international calls as it is considered a crime in the country. According to sources, a North Korean factory owner was executed by firing squad in front of 150,000 people in 2007 after being accused of making international calls on 13 phones installed in a factory basement.

4.Punishment for three generations.

If someone commits a crime in North Korea, their grandparents, parents, and children will all be punished. This heinous law was enacted to keep prisoners from fleeing from prison.

5.Permission is required to dwell in the national capital.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un wants only the most accomplished, wealthy, and influential people to live in Pyongyang. People must obtain express permission to live in the capital.

6.Only haircuts approved by the government are permitted.

All men and women are only permitted to wear one of the 28 government-approved haircuts, 18 for women and 10 for men; all other hairstyles are outlawed. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un enacted this regulation in 2013 and excluded his hairdo from the list because he wanted to keep it distinctive and no one could dare to duplicate it. Married ladies are expected to have shorter hair than unmarried women.

7.Students must purchase their own desks and chairs.

Students are required to pay for their desks and chairs in class! This is not covered by school fees.

8.No iPhones or laptops are permitted.

No iPhones, TVs, or laptops from the aforementioned brands for North Koreans! People in this country know relatively little about electronics and technology since the government's isolation policy conceals a lot.

9.Bible is forbidden in North Korea.

Bible is considered a symbol of Western culture in North Korea and is therefore forbidden because it has the power to convert people. One Christian woman who was distributing the Bible was arrested and executed. Jeffrey Fowle, an American citizen on a tour of North Korea, was arrested and imprisoned for five months in 2014 after leaving the Bible in the lavatory of the Chongjin Sailor's Club restaurant.

10.North Korean detention camps

The camps are thought to house some 200,000 North Koreans. They were arrested on suspicion of political offences. If a person is convicted of a political offense, his entire family gets imprisoned. If a prisoner escapes, his entire family will be killed. Malnutrition kills 40% of the captives detained in these prison camps. Many of them are condemned to hard labor for ostensibly fair lengths, yet they frequently work themselves to death.

11.Distinct calendar

North Korea uses a distinct calendar than the rest of the world, known as the Juche calendar. It all starts on April 15, 1912, the birthday of their beloved revolutionary hero Kim Il Sung.

12.Only one leader to vote in the election.

North Korea has elections, and all citizens over the age of 17 are required to vote, although the elections are not totally free. You only have one choice in each election. As a result, 100% of Koreans vote for their beloved leader.

13.Kim Il Sung is the only legitimate leader they have.

Kim Il Sung, North Korea's first leader after the communist revolution, died many years ago but is still regarded as the country's leader. That is why his son and now grandson were so simply able to take over after his predecessor died.

14.It is blasphemous to insult Kim and his family.

To Kim Jong-un, his family, and the government, all North Koreans who live under his authority must vow allegiance. The North Korean government considers blasphemy and punishes harshly anyone or anything that they deem to be an insult to the Kim family. Both North Korean immigrants and visitors must follow this rule. Anything that can be construed as a threat or insult will result in jail or perhaps death. Many people are also acquainted with the story of American citizen and student Otto Warmbier, who was detained at Pyongyang International Airport while waiting to leave the country after attempting to steal a billboard from his hotel room while visiting North Korea as part of a guided tour group. Warmbier was imprisoned, released in a vegetative state, and passed away shortly after in June 2017.

15.There is no marijuana law.

Ironically, there are no drug issues in a country with a strong conservative tradition. In North Korea, marijuana is not permitted for use, sale, or possession. However, marijuana grows unhindered along the roadways, so if an individual from the neighborhood decides to abruptly take advantage of this opportunity, he can do it in total peace.

16.Tourists are subject to strict regulations.

The North Korean government strictly monitors all tourists that enter the country. Each visitor is assigned a guide who will accompany him throughout the journey. Anyone who leaves their group or attempts to speak with a local will be arrested. Along with this, tourists are only taken to specific locations and routes.

17.Not permitted to leave the country.

You may be wondering why North Koreans do not flee even when confronted with such harsh rules. They simply cannot. North Korean citizens are not permitted to leave the nation, and anyone crossing the border without formal documentation will be shot by authorities. Those who attempt to flee or hide from Kim's dictatorial authority face the most severe punishment, which is death.

18.Every night, the power is turned off.

North Koreans experience power outages every night due to the country's energy difficulties, and using electricity requires authorization, and owning a microwave is forbidden.