North Korea’s 'Supreme Leader' Kim Jong-un Has Banned Sarcasm

"This is all America’s fault"

Kim Jong Un August 2016.
Getty

Kim Jong-Un August 2016.

Kim Jong Un August 2016.

It’s often said sarcasm is the lowest form of wit, others would argue that it’s a metric for potential. However in North Korea its out right banned!

In the latest of several bat-s*** crazy moves by North Korea’s Supreme Leader, Kim Jong-un, it appears that sarcasm has been made illegal for fear it could undermined him and his regime. Additionally the regime fears that the people maybe only agreeing with Kim Jong-un ironically, therefore the use of indirect criticism in everyday conversation has been outlawed.

According to a source in the country’s Jagang Province, they explained to Radio Free Asia’s Korean Service that:

"One state security official personally organised a meeting to alert local residents to potential ‘hostile actions’ by internal rebellious elements

Officials told their citizens that sarcastic expression such as "This is all America’s fault" constitutes as criticism of the North Korean government. According to one anonymous source:

"This habit of the central authorities of blaming the wrong country when a problem’s cause obviously lies elsewhere has led citizens to mock the party."

Another mocking expression: "A fool who cannot see the outside world" was popularised by the so-called 'rogue nation's' citizens and is said to be an indirect reference to Kim Jong-un himself. Apparently the phrase was coined after officials were shocked that he did not attend celebrations in Russia and China (fellow communist states we might add) to mark the end of the Second World War.

Furthermore local media have reported a recent increase in public acts of dissent, the latest act just occurred two weeks go after it  uncovered graffiti mocking the government and their leader.

The ban on sarcasm may sound far-fetched, but for a leader who just two years ago executed his head of military and his education minister (via antiaircraft guns) for falling asleep, maybe it’s not as crazy as it sounds.

[Via The Independent]

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