8 Most Ridiculous Laws in North Korea

North Korea is famous for its unusual rules and regulations, but these 8 most ridiculous laws in North Korea take the cake.

For those of you who aren’t that well-acquainted with the magnanimous Kims who have ruled over the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (you read that right!) since 1948, here’s a little background for you: the dynasty began when Kim Il-Sung, grandfather of the incumbent Supreme Leader of North Korea, Kim Jong-un, became President of the northern portion of Korea after the Japanese left it divided in 1945. And contrary to the propaganda which has been rampant in the country since then, it was actually the North which invaded the South in 1950 in a futile attempt to unite the Korean peninsula under its government. The war was essentially the then Soviet Union, China and North Korea versus practically the rest of the world, including the United Nations. An armistice was signed in 1953 and a Korean Demilitarized Zone from then on separated the two states, although (Fun fact!) the war technically never ended and is still ongoing.

North Korea in its early days was greatly influenced by the Russian way of government, which in turn was characterized by Marxism-Leninism and communism, but Kim Il-Sung’s self-created philosophy of Juche eventually became dominant. Kim always ruled ruthlessly, but the North Korea of the past was very unlike the one of today, in that its economy and standard of living was far better than the chaotic and crisis-consumed South. This was mainly thanks to the Soviet Union and its close ties with North Korea, and needless to say, with the collapse of the Union, came the collapse of North Korea. That in no way affected the Kims, who have continued to rule till the present day. Kim Il-Sung still enjoys a certain degree of reverence, partly because of the cult of personality he propagated during his lifetime, and because he was designated Eternal President in 2016, a position he enjoys with his son Kim Jong-il. Both the Kims were embalmed after death and are on display in North Korea. I thought I’d mention it, in case you need ideas for the holidays.

Speaking of dicators, don’t miss our article on 10 Most Evil and Hated Dicators of All Time, as there are also a plenty of interesting things to read there.

In short, barbarism infused with a hint of crazy is what defines North Korea, and there are also plenty of weird laws that provide a clear idea of how the dictatorship manages to achieve that. Let’s take a look at the 8 most ridiculous laws in North Korea:

8. There are 28 government-approved haircuts

Although there’s a bit of doubt of whether or not adhering to this rule entails a punishment, it is certainly true that there are 18 government-approved styles government-approved styles for women and 10 for men. Moreover, in 2015, Kim Jong-un, in an attempt to curb the spread of capitalism, ordered citizens to get the famous haircut he has. What more evidence do we need of North Korean leaders being absolute nut-jobs?

7. Blue denim is not allowed

Yep, you read that right. Blue denim is perceived to be the evil symbol of American imperialism and hence wearing jeans can earn you a punishment in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. This rule has further expanded under the regime of Kim Jong-un to include a ban on piercings, restrictions on the lengths of skirts and so on, for he fears that the citizens are growing to appreciate Western culture. And now, let’s see what else we hav on our list of most ridiculous laws in North Korea.

6. There is no freedom of religion

In keeping with Karl Marx’s disillusionment of religion – he termed it the “opium of the masses” – North Korea also discourages religion, unless you want to worship Kim Il-Sung, a figure tantamount to a god, in which case, go ahead! Thus in many ways, the Juche ideology has practically become a religion, and practicing other faiths like Christianity entails serious consequences. However, folk religion is what fills the voids left by the Juche in people’s lives; for more information, check out this interview of a North Korean defector.

5. Some punishments go on for generations

Besides the fact that if you don’t behave the way the glorious Kims want you to, you can be executed in a variety of creative ways, there are also 16 labor camps in North Korea where over 200,000 prisoners are held in captivity and forced to do hard labor for minor mistakes. The worst part is that these punishments sometimes span decades, and hence, generations, meaning that if you are punished for a crime, your grandchildren could likely still be paying the price. Take the instance of this prisoner who escaped from a camp after 23 hard years.

4. There’s no proper internet

Well, to be fair, citizens can access certain websites created by the North Korean government itself, but that is the extent of the internet that is available in the country. The fewer than 30 websites available for access are either centered on Korean culture,  tourism, propaganda, or the activities of the head of state. You can access these websites online, the most famous of which is www.rodong.rep.kp, which even has an English version! You might notice that these websites are highly simplistic and mundane; web design is certainly not one of the government’s strengths (if it has any!). And now, let’s see the top three on our list of most ridiculous laws in North Korea.

3. Watching TV can get you killed

Well maybe that’s a bit too harsh – after all, you do have state television. Of course, any television besides that is completely taboo. In case you don’t believe it, in the past couple of years, over a hundred people have been executed for watching television from South Korea. The absurdity of this fact is why it has landed on our list of the 8 most ridiculous laws in North Korea.

2. The country has a caste system

The government uses a system known as “songbun” to determine the worthiness of its citizens. Unsurprisingly, the people constituting and closest to the government form the elite who receive the best opportunities in the country because they have the highest “songbun”, and these form the “core” class. The “wavering” represent the middle class or the average citizens, and the “hostile” are those who have ever made the mistake of irritating the government. These people are forbidden from living in Pyongyang, the capital, where the cream of North Koreans resides.

1. It’s Year 105 in North Korea

Yep, it’s not 2016, it’s 105, starting from 1912, the year Eternal President and Supreme Leader Kim Il-Sung was born. What better example can there be that references his godlike status in the country? The fact that North Korea has its own date and its own time is also a reinforcement of the reality that it is completely isolated from the rest of the world in every aspect, be it humanism or technical progress. This law thus cements its place at number 1 on our list of the 8 most ridiculous laws in North Korea.