We're in North Korea, of course. The Daily NK has details on the specifics:
Daily NK recently obtained explanatory material for the law against “reactionary thought,” which was adopted in December during a meeting of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly.
Daily NK previously reported that the law calls for strengthening controls on the entry and distribution of cultural materials from other countries, including South Korea, as well as the leaking of books, videos and other materials produced by North Korean authorities, such as propaganda materials.
In fact, the explanatory materials Daily NK recently obtained lay out the specific “criminal punishments” for consuming or distributing cultural materials from South Korea, the production or distribution of pornography, the use of unregistered TVs, radios, computers or other electronic devices, and the consumption or possession of banned films, recorded materials or books.
Particularly striking is how much of the law warns against the entry of films, TV programs, music and other cultural materials from South Korea.
Article 27 of the law calls for sentences of five to 15 years of correctional labor against people caught watching, listening or possessing “films, recordings, publications, books, songs, drawings or photos from South Choson [South Korea],” and life sentences of correctional labor or death for individuals who import and distribute such materials.
North Korean authorities have also banned the use of South Korean accents or singing styles. Article 32 of the law against reactionary thought calls for disciplinary labor or up to two years of correctional labor for “speaking or writing in the South Chosun style, singing songs in the South Korean style or printing materials using South Chosun fonts.”
The bans appear to be a response to the growing number of North Koreans who enjoy South Korean culture, including South Korean films, TV programs and pop music.
In fact, since North Korean authorities stopped inter-regional travel and banned various gatherings in response to COVID-19, North Koreans have reportedly been watching more South Korean TV programs as they spend more time at home....
The law also calls for controls against cultural materials from the US and Japan. Article 28 laid out punishments for those who consume or import cultural materials from “hostile countries” such as the US or Japan, or materials containing content that “opposes” the North Korean regime. Specifically, the law calls for up to 10 years of correctional labor for these crimes, and even death for importing “a lot of material.”
A source in the country told Daily NK that the Bible is included among the banned books mentioned in Article 28.
Comments