Life in North Korea: Both the Forbidden and the Controlled

North Korea which people portray as a politically isolated and autocratic nation restricts the civil liberties of its people in a very rigorous manner. Officially headed by Kim Jong Il’s son for the third generation, the rule applies various strict laws that influence all spheres. This is an insider’s perspective of the odd prohibitions that characterize this isolated country.

1. Respect towards the leaders

It looks like the ruling Kim family is almost considered godlike. Guide’s figures, called “Dear Leader” or “Supreme Leader”, lie at the core of such a state. They cannot be insulted in any way; if anyone does so, he is punished severely, for life and even the next generations; this is called the ‘Three-Generation Regime.’ Formulated in 1972 by Kim Il-sung, this law made sure that anybody considered an enemy of the state did not exist at all in society.

Each citizen is obliged to wear a badge with pictures of either Kim Il-Sung or Kim Jong-Il, and not paying due respect to these icons may cost a person’s life. These badges may be purchased in Japan but unfortunately, it is unlawful for foreigners to do so.

2. Freedom of Religion

While the North Korean constitution provides for freedom of religion, it does not like religion, especially Christianity. If individuals practicing the Christian faith are caught they end up being arrested or being made to work for free. Ideology prevails here with the agenda known as Juche which is a uniqueness of Marxism and Korean nationalism; anything that goes against this regime is a major threat.

3. Travel Restrictions

Citizens of North Korea are banned from travel traveling to North Korea, or even to China, without official permission. This is a policy for avoiding apostasy and the world’s impact. Even Americans were not permitted much access, granted only freedom up to 2017 as travel bans were placed after student Otto Warmbier’s death.

4. Lifestyle and Appearance

The government has very tightly the fashion and grooming standards. People are required to select a hairdo from a provided list and barbers cannot copy Kim Jong Un’s hairdo. Tattoos, the Western style of dressing particularly wearing jeans, skirts and almost anything related to the Western way of dressing are prohibited particularly in areas along the borders.

5. Luxury and Technology

Consumer durables jewelry, expensive cars and electronics are officially out of reach of the common man but can be availed by the higher ranks in clandestine affairs. However, Apple’s products together with Western technologies have been used by high-ranking officials despite the ban. North Korean-developed operating system, Red Star imitates the interface of Apple’s macOS, Echo.

6. Media and Communication

There are no foreign stations for TV and radio and all these are still dominated by the government. Saxton writes that possession of unauthorized media can lead to some serious consequences. There is no connection to the World Wide Web is almost completely severed; freedom of access to the internet for citizens is severely curtailed with internet access being limited to an internet-like system.

7. Currency and Economy

Unlike the North Korean Won, which is the official currency however its value is negligible. HACPs are mostly in foreign currencies, specifically the US, euros, and yuan for the purchase of goods and services, and to support the regime's economy. Black markets actively exist as the sources of many goods and services that the government itself does not guarantee.

8. Birth Control and Health

Abortion pills and condoms are prohibited as products and policies because Kim Jong-un is trying to make North Korea’s population denser. But condoms are purchased in China and brought in secretly and are used by prostitutes, male and female, and other important officials to avoid transmission of AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases as well as to avoid unwanted pregnancies.

9. Sanctions and Survival

International sanctions imposed to reign in North Korea’s nuclear programs have caused additional economic problems. Nevertheless, the regime continues to receive luxury products for its officials, having them supplied through third countries.

Conclusion

North Korean society prevents its citizens from exercising many of their rights and liberties as they wish and records a high level of control over people’s lives. This ranges from forced loyalty to the leadership to restriction on movements, clothing and even childbirth hence the regime demands total control over its people. To the outside world, such restrictions give very gloomy and negative impressions of a country that is still fully reclusive from normalcy.