The 6 Strangest Decrees of the North Korean Government

The 6 Strangest Decrees of the North Korean Government
Apr 08, 2014 By eChinacities.com

Editor’s note: This article translated from a blog on ifeng.com explores some of the more bizarre aspects of North Korean life. News about the life of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and the world’s last true totalitarian communist dictatorship has garnered a great deal of interest among Chinese netizens who are fascinated by their secretive neighbors.

North Korea has a reputation of being both mysterious and absurd. This is mainly down to the nation’s dictatorial regime and Kim Jong-un’s isolationist policies. In order to strengthen authoritarian rule, North Korean leaders have continued to issue strange decrees that control the public from head to toe and curb their desires for individuality and a view of the outside world. Here are some of these decrees:

Kim Jong-un
Kim Jong-un. Source: ifeng.com

1) Men in Pyongyang can only have Kim Jong Un-style haircuts
The U.K. tabloid Mirror reported about two weeks ago that the North Korean government announced that all Pyongyang men must have hair styled after the “handsome” Kim Jong-un. The command was soon after extended to the entire country.

2) Women cannot have “foreign” hairstyles
Chinese newspaper Reference News reported in 2009, the Korean Youth League Central Committee launched a campaign on hairstyles aimed at the purpose of tidying up the appearance of the nation. The campaign opposed “foreign” hairstyles and required that, “men should have short hair and women should tie back their long hair,” in order to, “keep their hair clean and simple…for the Korean spirit and the establishment of a healthy lifestyle.”

Allegedly, the campaign began when North Korean leader Kim Jong Il saw a female shop clerk with a “foreign” hairstyle. He objected to her hairstyle, saying, “Is she really a North Korean woman? Why would she give up our own traditional beauty and instead choose the bad habit of imitating foreign capitalism?” However, this is already old news. The photo describing the 18 kinds of hairstyles for women is only a reference point and women can have other hairstyles along those guidelines.

3) Women cannot display their curves
In 2009, DPRK newspaper Rodong Sinmun reported that DPRK leader Kim Jong Il said the nation would take steps to clean up the clothing and hairstyles of young women and students.

Women must wear skirts that cover their knees, wear tights and wear clothes that do not reveal the curves of their body. The goal of the campaign was supposedly to establish a more healthy lifestyle and spirit for the people.

4) The people cannot say the leader’s name
An article by Legal Weekend reporter Li Xing published in 2011 described his experiences in North Korea. He said when he arrived in the Chinese border city of Dandong, an officer in charge of border control introduced him to a few of the rules in North Korea.

One of these rules is that when one addresses Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il they must use “Chairman,” and “General,” respectively. These titles must not be mixed up. If you can’t remember the title then you can use, “Leader,” for the president and general. 

This information was spread on Chinese internet forums. North Korea also asked the China media and the people not to use the names of the North Korean leaders.

5) When you take a picture of the leader, you have to include his whole body
In the same article mentioned above, the reporter wrote that when pictures are taken of the North Korean memorial statue the photo must include the statue’s entire body. In addition, photos cannot be taken of the military. DPRK regulations also stipulate that foreign tourists are not allowed to take any photos while in the country.

On their return home, visitor’s cameras are inspected by soldiers and if irregularities are discovered the photos will be deleted. 

6) In the face of disaster, defending the civil leaders is the nation’s top priority

The sacred statues of the leaders are more important than the lives of the people. On July 21, 2008, the official newspaper of the DPRK Worker’s Party Worker’s News  published an article outlining the rules of conduct for DPRK citizens in the face of natural disasters.

The authors of the article wrote that DPRK citizens should remember that in the event of an earthquake or large natural disaster the first thing citizens must do is try to protect the portraits, statues, busts and other art work depicting the North Korean leaders.

Source: ifeng.com

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Keywords: Kim Jong-un North Korean Government

13 Comments

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joey567

this shit is amazing

Apr 15, 2014 09:48 Report Abuse

allyqianni

His hair is very stylish

Apr 13, 2014 08:59 Report Abuse

skunkman

...he likes to groom...like what he's doing to his sister...

Apr 13, 2014 23:17 Report Abuse

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Apr 20, 2014 08:26 Report Abuse

Guest799342

The US and A..!

Apr 13, 2014 12:12 Report Abuse

skunkman

...perhaps, or maybe he could have been eating his egg fried rice with Russia vodka...with Cuban cigars to boot!!

Apr 09, 2014 20:23 Report Abuse

bike-gypsy

“Is she really a North Korean woman? Why would she give up our own traditional beauty and instead choose the bad habit of imitating foreign capitalism?” This is my favorite part, I hope someone sees my new hair cut today and says "nice gypsy, you are looking very capitalist today"

Apr 08, 2014 08:18 Report Abuse

Englteachted

China is not so far off.

Apr 08, 2014 07:22 Report Abuse

sharkies

Correct also.

Apr 08, 2014 08:53 Report Abuse

louischuahm

True about the CCP, but at least the people of China are a lot better off economically.

Apr 08, 2014 10:03 Report Abuse

louischuahm

This paints a self centered, selfish, ignorant and egoistic man!

Apr 08, 2014 00:57 Report Abuse

sharkies

Yes

Apr 08, 2014 08:52 Report Abuse

skunkman

True, but does he really have a choice but to be...? And who are the 'manipulators' who jerk the strings of this marionette? If he had a choice, he'd rather be in Chicago watching the Bulls play while eating ice cream.

Apr 08, 2014 23:57 Report Abuse