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Only in Kim Jong Un's North Korea: 10 unbelievable laws, practices in Pyongyang that can leave you shocked

North Korea is in the news once again following reports of its third-generation leader Kim Jong Un's fragile health condition after surgery. The dictator state, which remains largely unknown to the rest of the world, is also a land of bizarre laws and traditions. Here are a few of them that will make you thank your stars for not being born inside its borders.
North Korea is in the news once again following reports of its third-generation leader Kim Jong Un's fragile health condition after surgery. The dictator state, which remains largely unknown to the rest of the world, is also a land of bizarre laws and traditions. Here are a few of them that will make you thank your stars for not being born inside its borders. (Photo | AP)
North Korea is in the news once again following reports of its third-generation leader Kim Jong Un's fragile health condition after surgery. The dictator state, which remains largely unknown to the rest of the world, is also a land of bizarre laws and traditions. Here are a few of them that will make you thank your stars for not being born inside its borders. (Photo | AP)
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Media watchdog 'Reporters Without Borders' in April released their annual evaluation of global media freedom for the year 2020, and once again North Korea ranked bottom of the index. 'Press freedom' is a word largely unknown to North Koreans and there are only three government-regulated channels in the country for viewers to choose from. (Photo | AP)
Media watchdog 'Reporters Without Borders' in April released their annual evaluation of global media freedom for the year 2020, and once again North Korea ranked bottom of the index. 'Press freedom' is a word largely unknown to North Koreans and there are only three government-regulated channels in the country for viewers to choose from. (Photo | AP)
Kim Il-Sung, North Korea's founder and grand father of Kim Jong Un, passed away on 8 July 1994. The country mourns the leader's demise every year and it is punishable to smile on this day. People can't engage in any fun activities, crack jokes or consume alcohol on July 8. (Photo | AP)
Kim Il-Sung, North Korea's founder and grand father of Kim Jong Un, passed away on 8 July 1994. The country mourns the leader's demise every year and it is punishable to smile on this day. People can't engage in any fun activities, crack jokes or consume alcohol on July 8. (Photo | AP)
Military service is a must for all able-bodied individual in North Korea. While men are expected to serve 10 years (which was 13 earlier), women have to serve a lighter period. All individuals below the age of 60 is part of country's reserved force. Absolute coordination and discipline during military parades is a must and breaking formations are punishable. (Photo | AP)
Military service is a must for all able-bodied individual in North Korea. While men are expected to serve 10 years (which was 13 earlier), women have to serve a lighter period. All individuals below the age of 60 is part of country's reserved force. Absolute coordination and discipline during military parades is a must and breaking formations are punishable. (Photo | AP)
Wearing blue jeans is enough to land a North Korean in prison. Blue jeans in considered as the symbol of capitalism, American imperialism and hence is banned. (Photo | AP)
Wearing blue jeans is enough to land a North Korean in prison. Blue jeans in considered as the symbol of capitalism, American imperialism and hence is banned. (Photo | AP)
Ever seen a North Korean footballer with long hair? This is because the iron-fisted regime's interventions into people's lives are so tight that they can't even grow hair the way they like. There are 28 'state-authorised' hairstyles (10 for men, 18 for women) in the country and anything outside the list is punishable! Men can't grow their hair longer than 2 inches and long hair is reserved for married women. (Photo | AP)
Ever seen a North Korean footballer with long hair? This is because the iron-fisted regime's interventions into people's lives are so tight that they can't even grow hair the way they like. There are 28 'state-authorised' hairstyles (10 for men, 18 for women) in the country and anything outside the list is punishable! Men can't grow their hair longer than 2 inches and long hair is reserved for married women. (Photo | AP)
Disrespecting the Supreme Leaders of the country is considered a heinous crime in North Korea. This applies to statues, pictures and even newspaper clippings with their photos or names. If a citizen finds a paper on the street with one of the Leader's photo, he/she can neither step on it nor walk pass it, but hand it over to the officials responsible for dismantling it respectfully. (Photo | AP)
Disrespecting the Supreme Leaders of the country is considered a heinous crime in North Korea. This applies to statues, pictures and even newspaper clippings with their photos or names. If a citizen finds a paper on the street with one of the Leader's photo, he/she can neither step on it nor walk pass it, but hand it over to the officials responsible for dismantling it respectfully. (Photo | AP)
Human excreta is the major source of manure in the country. When South Korea decided to stop the export of fertilizers to their aggressive neighbors in 2008, Pyongyang had no choice but to ask people to collect and handover human waste to the authorities so that the farmers of the country stood a chance. (Photo | AP)
Human excreta is the major source of manure in the country. When South Korea decided to stop the export of fertilizers to their aggressive neighbors in 2008, Pyongyang had no choice but to ask people to collect and handover human waste to the authorities so that the farmers of the country stood a chance. (Photo | AP)
It is commonly believed that North Korea is one among the surviving Communist regimes in the world. However, though it aligned with the USSR in the Cold War era and have strong relations with China, the country follows an ideology of its own called the 'Juche.' In the post-USSR era, the mentioning of communism started getting removed from the country's Constitution and got wiped out completely by 2009. (Photo | AP)
It is commonly believed that North Korea is one among the surviving Communist regimes in the world. However, though it aligned with the USSR in the Cold War era and have strong relations with China, the country follows an ideology of its own called the 'Juche.' In the post-USSR era, the mentioning of communism started getting removed from the country's Constitution and got wiped out completely by 2009. (Photo | AP)
North Korea is officially an atheist state and practicing religion or possessing a Bible could result in execution. The only deities in the country are the members of the beloved 'Kim' family. (Photo | AP)
North Korea is officially an atheist state and practicing religion or possessing a Bible could result in execution. The only deities in the country are the members of the beloved 'Kim' family. (Photo | AP)
If a member of a family is found guilty of a crime against the State, the entire family will land in jail. Notoriously called the 'Three generation rule' implemented to restrict people from defecting to rival nations, Pyongyang make the parents, grandparents and children of the guilty to serve life terms in prison camps. (Photo | AP)
If a member of a family is found guilty of a crime against the State, the entire family will land in jail. Notoriously called the 'Three generation rule' implemented to restrict people from defecting to rival nations, Pyongyang make the parents, grandparents and children of the guilty to serve life terms in prison camps. (Photo | AP)
north korea
Pyongyang
Kim Jong Un
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