Kim has the citizens of his country and even his own family following crazy rules, like a ban on YouTube and social media. But he has also set up strict rules for North Korean parents which they have to abide by.
It is important to note that almost all of North Korea is crumbling under tremendous poverty and most middle-class families live from paycheck to paycheck. To add to that, they have a government which is not just totally dictatorial but also toxic and does not pay any heed to their basic needs. The no social media rule, for instance, is something that distances North Korea from the rest of the world as they have no clue about what is going on outside. This doesn’t just take away their right to knowledge but also disables them in the face of a severe political threat from other countries. Here are some rules which Kim Jong-un’s North Korea imposes on parents.
On July 8th, 1994 Kim's father passed away and consequently North Koreans and their children are not supposed to have any form of fun on that day. Forget engaging in something happy, kids are instructed to not even smile on that day. In fact, talking loudly is also forbidden for kids and their parents. People basically have to display a sense of mourning.
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North Korean kids obviously don't have options like Dunkin’ Donuts or Burger King or any chain retail store for that matter. Parents give their children the blandest and perhaps the most disappointing food a kid can ever have. Most North Korean children surviveNorth steady diet of pickled cabbage called Kimchi. Corn is also a huge part of their nutrition as it gives a lot of energy.
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Did you know unmarried women in North Korea can't grow their hair long? Men need to adhere to only the 28 haircuts which are approved by the government. In fact if one is seen sporting a cut that is not in the state approved list or is longer than 3 inches they can be punished. In fact spiked hair is also banned for kids and for adults.
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Most North Korean kids are forced into manual labour and don't really get a say in the matter. And it's not light labour bit pretty heavy-duty stuff like building railroads or even building homes. It's of course not a secret that most of the children are malnourished. They are forced to do at least 8-10 hours of hard labour in spite of being hungry.
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While Buddhism reigns large in North Korea, any other form of religious practice is strictly forbidden. In fact if people are found pursuing any form of 'unauthorised' religious practice they can face severe punishment and even imprisonment.
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North Korean children don't just have to idolize and learn about Kim Jong but aren't even allowed to look up any other politician or spiritual leader.
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North Korean kids are made to smile wide for photoshoots as Kim Jong wants to depict a happy and peaceful society. In fact children are also made to wear better clothes than they own.
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Did you watch Disney or Nickelodeon as a kid? North Korean children have no such choice. All they get to watch is the state channel and that's it. There are three approved TV channels and two of them are available on weekends.
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While most north Korean children have to survive amid abject poverty and a miserable lifestyle some children from well-off families are selected live in a children's Palace in the capital city of Pyongyang. Not only is the palace very well-equipped but also has incredible luxuries. But sadly all that is a front.
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It was reported in 2016 that the children's Palace is just another place where kids are brainwashed into worshipping and idolizing Kim Jong. They get to enjoy the facilities but are subjected to a very mechanical and robotic lifestyle which revolves around their Supreme Leader.
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It was reported that in order to prepare them for military life, kids are made to play with army-style toys and are often made to use American soldier toys as targets to get an idea of the political warfare.
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Did you know kids in North Korea don't have access to real names of most of the beautiful flowers which bloom there? One flower is in fact named after Kim Jong-un's father to pay homage to his legacy.
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Most middle class families don't get electricity past sunset. It was reported by an American magazine that most families only get a few hours of electricity and don't get any at night.
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Children in North Korea have to fund their own school desks was even for their heating in the classrooms. This rule is brutal as most families don't even have money for food.
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Did you know North Koreans have no access to social media and even basic Internet? Which obviously means they are disconnected from most of what's happening in the world. This is also a way to isolate the kids from the start so that they don’t have a sense of the real world.
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