North Korea’s craziest laws

Wow, North Korea, also known as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, is indeed a mysterious place, often referred to as The Hermit Kingdom due to its isolation and strict rule under Supreme Leader Kim Jong-Un. The country's extreme laws, enforced by the dictatorship, make it one of the most intriguing yet concerning places on Earth. The craziest laws enforced there are truly shocking. For instance, imagine facing capital punishment for something as common as falling asleep at the wrong time! In North Korea, even high-ranking officials like Minister of Defence Hyon Yong-chol and Education Minister Kim Yong-Jin were publicly executed for seemingly minor infractions like napping or having bad posture. These extreme measures serve as harsh reminders of the regime's intolerance towards laziness and disobedience. It's indeed a place where the laws and consequences are beyond comprehension. That's truly unbelievable! The extreme consequences for seemingly minor actions in North Korea are indeed shocking. It's hard to imagine facing capital punishment for something as common as falling asleep or having bad posture. The stories of Minister of Defence Hyon Yong-chol and Education Minister Kim Yong-Jin highlight the severe measures taken by the regime to maintain control and discipline. It's a stark reminder of the strict laws and harsh realities in that country. In many bustling cities, bicycles are a crucial mode of transportation for numerous individuals. However, in North Korea, bicycles were prohibited on the streets of Pyongyang, the capital city. Unlike China, which transitioned naturally from walking to cycling to motorized transport over the years, North Korea opted for a rapid shift by banning bikes and pushing for motor vehicle usage. This approach might have been effective if the economy had not collapsed in 1991, leaving many North Koreans struggling financially. Consequently, the bicycle ban was lifted in 1992, but due to economic constraints, most citizens still rely on bicycles for transportation. Despite the ban being lifted, the state later prohibited women from owning and riding bicycles in 1995, citing concerns about public morality. The reasoning behind this ban reflects more on the regime's views than on the simple act of riding a bike. So, North Korea came up with this wild idea that women couldn't handle traffic because of their genes, right? But hold up, when you look at the facts, men actually cause more traffic accidents and fatalities than women. In the US in 2021, women were involved in about 6,000 fatal crashes, while men were in over 21,000, which is more than 3 times higher. So, that whole genetically incapable argument just crashed and burned. The ban on women riding bicycles was lifted briefly in 2012 but then put back in place in early 2013. Nowadays, the rule is a bit more relaxed, especially due to the limited motorized public transport in the main cities. But when it comes to women's rights in the country, it's a whole different story. And speaking of restrictions, Kim Jong-Un decided to crack down on Western influences, including jeans, which have been banned in North Korea since mid-2020. It's pretty wild to think about not being able to wear jeans, right? So, like, the whole ban on jeans and stuff in North Korea goes way back to when Korea split in 1945. South Korea had America's support, while the North was all about that communist Soviet Union vibe. Since then, North Koreans have been taught to see American capitalism and the Western world as enemies, along with all their ideas. It's not just jeans that are a no-go; unless it's a work uniform, women can't rock trousers in North Korea at all. The law's still in effect today, but it's tough to enforce on a population of 26 million. If a woman gets caught wearing them, a Youth League member can grill her, make her write a confession, and even blast her personal info on loudspeakers. Imagine getting doxxed just for wearing pants! So, between the bike ban and the jeans ban, which one do you think is the most absurd? If you're team anti-bike, hit like; if you're all about the no-jeans life, hit subscribe. All set? What's next? So, in the West, hair is like a big deal for showing off who you are. Some of us go all out with spiky mohawks, funky blue hair, and even the mullet making a comeback. It's wild, right? But in North Korea, they're not about those extreme hairstyles. If you try something bold, you might get stopped by the Patriotic Youth League and be forced to change it up. Back in 2013, the state was like, "Here are the 28 approved hairstyles: 10 for guys, 18 for gals." Even though there are a few more options now, men still can't have hair longer than two inches, unless you're 60 or older. How kind of them. Young guys have to keep getting haircuts every 15 days to stay in line! For the ladies, short hair is cool when you're hitched, but long, curly styles like it's the '80s are okay for the single gals. Not as bad as the Kim Jong-Un look, right? And then there's the whole name thing. Kim Jong-Un wanted to be the only one with his name, so he made it a rule that no one else in North Korea could share it. Like, imagine that! Everyone named Jong-Un had to switch names in 2011 when he took charge. He even made his daughter, Kim Ju-ae, change her name too, setting her up as the next leader. Crazy stuff, right? Man, the deal with North Korea and their cell phones is intense! They're all about keeping a tight grip on information flow in and out of the country. It's crazy how making an international call there can have such severe consequences, like a death sentence. The government is so strict to prevent any outside influence from getting in and to stop their citizens from realizing what's really going on. It's like they're trying to keep everyone in the dark to maintain control. It's a tough situation for the people living there.