Continuing His War On Christmas, Kim Jong Un Bans Gatherings Involving Singing And Drinking
- 6 years ago
Last year, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un banned Christmas, and this year he’s following it up with a prohibition on gatherings that involving singing and alcohol.
Last year, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un banned Christmas, and this year he's following it up with a prohibition on "gatherings that involve alcohol and singing," notes USA Today.
That revelation comes from South Korea's National Intelligence Service.
It also reports that the latest ban is an effort to control the spread of information coming from outside of official channels and contain potential dissent that may arise from recent tightening of sanctions against the secluded Asian country.
Experts estimate those prohibition will severely impact the North Korean economy in the coming months, and by March the nation's people will find themselves in dire circumstances.
Notably, Christmas is not historically a big holiday in North Korea, but some of its citizens have been known to practice Christianity and observe the holy day.
That option was officially removed last year and with the recommendation that those affected commemorate the December 24, 1919 birth of the leader's grandmother instead, according to the New York Post.
Kim has also made attempts to stop Christmas from spilling over the nation's border, notes CNN.
For years, South Korea erected a 30-foot tall tree of lights that, due to its placement on a hill near the demilitarized zone, could be seen from North Korea.
Six years ago, North Korea reportedly said that lighting the tree would result in "unexpected consequences."
Last year, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un banned Christmas, and this year he's following it up with a prohibition on "gatherings that involve alcohol and singing," notes USA Today.
That revelation comes from South Korea's National Intelligence Service.
It also reports that the latest ban is an effort to control the spread of information coming from outside of official channels and contain potential dissent that may arise from recent tightening of sanctions against the secluded Asian country.
Experts estimate those prohibition will severely impact the North Korean economy in the coming months, and by March the nation's people will find themselves in dire circumstances.
Notably, Christmas is not historically a big holiday in North Korea, but some of its citizens have been known to practice Christianity and observe the holy day.
That option was officially removed last year and with the recommendation that those affected commemorate the December 24, 1919 birth of the leader's grandmother instead, according to the New York Post.
Kim has also made attempts to stop Christmas from spilling over the nation's border, notes CNN.
For years, South Korea erected a 30-foot tall tree of lights that, due to its placement on a hill near the demilitarized zone, could be seen from North Korea.
Six years ago, North Korea reportedly said that lighting the tree would result in "unexpected consequences."