North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has introduced a series of controversial new policies, including banning the sale and distribution of hotdogs and imposing harsh penalties on divorcing couples.
Kim has outlawed the American-origin dish, labeling it “too Western” and a symbol of capitalist culture. Serving or consuming hotdogs in North Korea will now be considered an act of treason. Offenders risk being sent to hardship labor camps, underscoring the regime’s ongoing efforts to suppress what it perceives as decadent foreign influences infiltrating the country.
In a separate directive, Kim has declared divorce an “anti-socialist crime.” Couples who divorce will face either imprisonment or deployment to labor camps for up to six months. Reports suggest that women may receive longer sentences under the new rules.
This marks a significant escalation from previous laws, which penalized only the party initiating the divorce—even in cases of abuse. As of 2025, both spouses will be punished, a toughening of policies that reflects the regime’s efforts to enforce social cohesion through punitive measures
