North Korea is one of the most secretive nations in the world, where even the simplest daily actions can be crimes. Thanks to defectors and rare accounts, we now know some of the shocking restrictions that citizens face. From banning jeans to executing people for making a phone call, here’s a look at everyday activities that are illegal in North Korea.
📞 Communication and Free Speech
- International Phone Calls – Speaking to someone abroad, even a relative, can result in execution. Several people have been killed for trying to contact family in South Korea.
- Having an Opinion – The only “legal” opinion is the one approved by the regime. Criticism or questioning the government leads to harsh punishment.
- Sarcasm – Unlike in most countries where sarcasm is humor, in North Korea, words are taken literally. Joking about the regime can send you to prison.
- Talking Negatively About the Government – Citizens who criticize leadership are often sent to brutal “re-education camps.”
🎶 Culture, Entertainment, and Technology
- Owning Western Electronics – iPhones, Android phones, and foreign PCs are banned. Only state-approved devices are allowed.
- Listening to Music – Songs must glorify the regime. Foreign music can mean imprisonment or execution.
- Watching TV – All channels broadcast propaganda. Hundreds have been executed for secretly watching South Korean dramas.
- Reading Foreign Books – Even carrying a travel guide is treated as “spreading propaganda.”
- Pornography – Watching adult content is punishable by death. Reports say Kim Jong-Un executed his ex-girlfriend for appearing in a video.
🚗 Movement and Lifestyle Controls
- Driving – With fewer than 1 car per 1,000 people, most citizens are forbidden from driving. Travel is strictly controlled.
- Leaving the Country – Defectors face execution if caught, and often their families are punished for generations.
- Living in Pyongyang – Only the elite can live in the capital. Residency is determined by political loyalty, not personal choice.
- Taking Pictures – Tourists can’t photograph freely; many areas are off-limits. Locals risk arrest for unauthorized photos.
👔 Personal Life and Appearance
- Wearing Blue Jeans – Denim is banned because it symbolizes America, North Korea’s sworn enemy.
- Hairstyles – Citizens must choose from 28 state-approved haircuts. Unapproved styles, like mohawks, are illegal.
- Alcohol Restrictions – Drinking is allowed only on designated days. In 2012, a soldier was executed with a mortar for drinking during mourning.
✝️ Religion and Belief
- Practicing Religion – North Korea is officially atheist. Christians and other believers face public execution or prison camps. In 2013, 80 Christians were executed for owning Bibles.
- Dishonoring the Leader – Any insult, even accidental, against Kim Jong-Un or past leaders is considered treason.
- Using the Internet – Citizens can only access a state-controlled intranet. Trying to bypass it leads to prison.
- Not Voting – Voting is mandatory, and ballots offer only one candidate. Failure to participate is a punishable crime.
Final Thoughts
North Korea shows the world how fragile freedom can be. From music and clothing to opinions and religion, things we take for granted every day are crimes under the regime. For its citizens, survival means obedience—and silence.