It has been reported that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has executed a man by firing squad as punishment for selling illegal films and music. It is also claimed that his family was forced to watch his execution. The claims, like much of the information coming out of North Korea, remains unsubstantiated.
The executed man went by the name of 'Lee' and was said to be a chief engineer at the Wonsan Farming Management Commission.
The North Korean authorities are said to have stated:
"This was the first execution in Gangwon Province for anti-socialist acts under the anti-reactionary thought law."
Witnesses claim to have said:
"The family's neighbours burst into tears when they saw the four security guards picking up Lee's collapsed wife and throwing her [into the van] like a piece of luggage, but they had to clamp their mouths shut and weep in silence for fear of being caught in the criminal act of having compassion for a reactionary."
It is thought that people who bought films and music from lee are now being hunted by North Korean police.
An unnamed source added:
"Nowadays, if you are caught watching a South Korean video, you receive a sentence of either life in prison or death, so nobody knows who will be executed next. You can receive a seven-year sentence just for not reporting someone. The entire population is shaking with fear."
There has been a long campaign by the ruling Kim dynasty to eliminate the influence of Western nations on North Korean society, as they believe it could undermine their authority. As such, Western media is banned.
North Korean newspaper Rodong Sinmun said recently regarding the influence of Western media:
"History teaches us a crucial lesson that a country can become vulnerable and eventually collapse like a damp wall regardless of its economic and defence power if we do not hold on to our own lifestyle. 'We must be wary of even the slightest sign of the capitalistic lifestyle and fight to get rid of them."
Due to North Korea's extreme isolation, many of the stories and reports have to be treated sceptically. Rumours also persist that there are now legal and illegal haircuts, and that all North Koreans must select a cut from a selection of authorised styles.
[h/t: Daily Mail]
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