In a sweeping crackdown on Western influences, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un bans the popular hot dog dish, punishes its sale with labor camp sentences, and declares divorce a criminal act, further tightening control over citizens’ lives
In a move raising eyebrows globally, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has banned the consumption, sale, and preparation of hot dogs, labeling the popular sausage dish a symbol of Western influence. Citizens caught violating the ban face harsh punishments, including deportation to labor camps, according to The Sun.
Hot dogs, often incorporated into the spicy noodle dish Budae-jjigae—a fusion meal popularized through South Korea—are now off-limits in the secretive state. A street vendor from Ryanggang Province revealed that local markets have ceased selling the dish under strict orders from authorities.
“The police have warned that anyone caught selling it will face shutdowns,” the vendor disclosed.
This bizarre ban is the latest in a string of policies targeting what Kim perceives as the infiltration of Western lifestyles. Ironically, the consumption of dog meat remains legal and widespread in the country.
Divorce Declared a Crime
Adding to the controversy, Kim Jong-un has also outlawed divorce. Divorced couples are reportedly being sent to labor camps for six months as punishment. A resident from Kimjongsuk County shared their experience, stating,
“At the county court, 12 people were granted divorce decrees, but they were immediately transferred to labor camps after the verdict.”
These measures underline the regime’s ever-tightening grip on personal freedoms, leaving little room for compromise in the isolated nation.
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