Random Details of Daily Life of Citizens In North Korea (12 items)

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  (#1) Public Executions Are A Regular Occurrence

  In a country where practically every aspect of life is regulated and monitored, anyone going against the norm is bound to stand out. Seriously, North Korea does not look kindly on those who stand out; the government views non-conformity as rebellion, which they feel must be quashed quickly, thoroughly, and as early on as possible.

  By meticulously enforcing hegemonic thought, the government maintains a tight chokehold on its citizenry. North Koreans are routinely executed in public, often for minor crimes. In one particularly chilling story, a defector told of a group of 11 people who were publicly executed in a packed football stadium as punishment for making a pornographic movie:

  "[They] were brought out, tied up, hooded and apparently gagged, so they could not make a noise, not beg for mercy or even scream…They were lashed to the end of anti-aircraft guns… It was so horrible and I could not eat for three days as it made my stomach churn. What I saw that day made me sick in my stomach. Despite [my family's] privilege, I was scared. I saw terrible things in Pyongyang."
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  (#2) The Population Has A Major Problem With Meth

  6 caught for #trafficking #NorthKorea #meth in #SouthKorea. How much North Korean meth is out there?#OrganizedCrime. https://t.co/xeBJFJSM7y pic.twitter.com/2EPnD1WCGl

  — Inshik Sim (@yasdre) February 16, 2017

  When North Korea lost financial support from the Soviet Union in the wake of the USSR's collapse, desperate times called for desperate measures. Widespread poverty and famine caused decades of death and destruction. To make money, the government started manufacturing meth so pure that it has tested as high as 98% on purity scales. Now, many North Koreans are hooked. According to Vice:

  "Suited elites in Pyongyang restaurants offer each other a 'nose' after dinner, the middle classes take it as a cold cure or remedy for back pain, and the poor take it to ease the emptiness in their stomachs."
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  (#3) Anti-American Propaganda Is Everywhere

  Anti-American sentiment in North Korea is not just reflected in the country's public policy, or used as a way to cultivate frenzied fear at political rallies. It is woven into the very fabric of the nation. As early as elementary school, North Korean students are given lessons that are nothing more than anti-American propaganda.

  Since Trump has escalated tensions with North Korea, anti-American propaganda is at an all-time high. There are billboards showing the destruction of the United States, abundant conspiracy theories about America that are promoted by the North Korean government, and anti-American rhetoric casually enmeshed in North Koreans' everyday lives.
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  (#4) Teen Girls Are Routinely Pulled Out Of School To Become Kim Jong-un's Sex Slaves

  Kim Jong-un may have a wife and three children, but he also has an elaborate and disgusting system in place to satisfy his carnal desires. Obviously, the plan is not discussed openly in North Korea, but defectors have shed light on the despicable practice.

  The country's leader regularly has teenage girls pulled out of school to become his personal sex slaves. When he's done with them, they're tossed aside, or are given the option of marrying one of his high-ranking officials. One defector said:

  "They learn to serve him food like caviar and extremely rare delicacies…They are also taught how to massage him and they became sex slaves…Yes, they have to sleep with him and they cannot make a mistake or object because they could very easily simply disappear."
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  (#5) Practicing Christianity Is Forbidden And Punishable By Death

  In North Korea, the main deity is Kim Jong-un. Though there are some state-approved Christian churches in North Korea, defectors insist these are just for show; allegedly, there is no such thing as religious tolerance in North Korea.

  If you are caught practicing Christianity without explicit permission from the state, you could be executed. According to UPI, "In one particular case, 33 North Korean Christians who came into contact with South Korean Christian groups, most likely in China, were summarily executed."
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  (#6) People Eat Grass Because There Is Not Enough Food

  Though the North Korean government insists their country is a utopia, there have long been reports that the nation is plagued by a food shortage. Because the food supply is so erratic, North Koreans have had to resort to desperate alternatives, like eating grass.

  Although hunger can drive people to do out-of-character things, the government insists that the populace views their hunger as a tool for the greater good. According to Vladimir Putin, the North Koreans will "eat grass, but they will not turn away from the path that will provide for their security." Translation: he thinks they will gladly go without food if it means advancing the country's nuclear arsenal.
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  (#7) Goods Are Regularly Smuggled In

  The government keeps close tabs on anything that impacts the lives of the North Korean public. Nothing is bought or sold without the government's permission, to a point. Beyond that point is the black market, which has sparked a sort of underground free economy in North Korea.

  All sorts of goods are smuggled into the country, typically from South Korea and China, including money, cell phones, bibles, even Friends episodes and K-Pop videos. Of the utmost concern to the government, however, is the dispersal of information, primarily via cell phones and electronic devices with Internet access. Information is power, and enough power can give rise to revolt, so smuggling anything with Internet access into North Korea is dangerous. 
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  (#8) In North Korea, There Is No Resistance

  For North Koreans, there are no anti-Kim protests to attend, no social networks to connect folks who are equally frustrated about the state of the government, and no way to legitimately air grievances with the ruling powers. Kim Jong-un is seen as divine and infallible, the type of person would never be involved with a corrupt, dangerous regime.

  Well, that's the story North Koreans are made to believe, anyway. But while you won't find resistance rallies or anti-government marches in North Korea, the population is starting to rebel in small, subtle ways. Something as minor as watching a contraband American movie is a serious offense in North Korea, but many are doing it. It might not spark a coup, but it's a nice way to snub their oppressive leader.
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  (#9) Holidays Revolve Around Kim Jong-un And His Family

  Since Kim Jong-un's family took control of North Korea, a grand mythology has been put forth regarding the family. Among the most insane rumors: the Kims neither pee nor poop, Kim Jong-un was driving at three and winning sailing races at nine, Kim Jong-il wrote 1,500 books in three years, and Kim Jong-il invented the hamburger in 2000.

  These superhuman feats are shared with the public to underscore the divine rights of the Kims. As divine figures, they are worshipped, and many holidays revolve around them. The birthdays and death anniversaries of Kim family leaders are regularly commemorated, and even Mother's Day is a celebration of Kim Jong-un, his father, and grandfather.
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  (#10) Women Are Made To Wear School Uniforms Through College

  School uniforms breed social uniformity, or at least that's likely the rationale behind the North Korean government's rules regarding school dress codes. All students must wear uniforms throughout their primary education. In college, women must still wear uniforms. Women also cannot wear short skirts or sleeveless tops at any time. Women's shirts must reach at least the knees, and women are never permitted to wear pants.
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  (#11) Most North Koreans Cannot Own Cars

  Most average, run-of-the-mill folks in North Korea cannot own motor vehicles. While not technically illegal, the industry is regulated to the point that car ownership for individuals is practically impossible. Like all other luxuries, it is a perk mostly reserved for those who work in the government. To get around this, North Koreans who can actually afford a personal vehicle are buying cars and then registering them under the names of state-run institutions. Most North Koreans rely on public transportation, usually buses.
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  (#12) Escape — Let Alone Travel — Are Virtually Impossible

  If you're a North Korean, you can't just pop over the border to see what's happening in South Korea. The government maintains strict control over emigration, whether citizens are trying to escape, or simply want a relaxing vacation. 

  If you are caught trying to escape, there will be hell to pay. The government has never taken kindly to attempted defections, but they've ramped up their punishments in the last several years. Labor camps, reeducation camps, and execution are all potential penalties for trying to cut and run.

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