Kim Jong Un Bans Dogs As Pets In North Korea
As bizarre as it may seem, several media outlets have echoed the following news: it seems that North Korean President Kim Jong Un has banned the raising of dogs as pets in North Korea, more precisely in the capital.
This event is not a mere rumor or an anecdote, as prestigious magazines such as Forbes Mexico have been drawing attention to this subject in recent days. Even so, we know that information from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) is, at best, sparse, as the Western media does not have access to it due to various censorship mechanisms.
For all that, distinguishing reality from fiction becomes very complex. Do you want to know more about this alarming subject? Why would all domestic dogs in a population sector be confiscated? If you want to know the answer, read on.
The news
According to confidential sources in the South Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo (translated into English), the measure was imposed last July. Since then, authorities in Pyongyang have (allegedly) confiscated all domestic dogs in the capital. The reason argued? A question of social class.
According to these unnamed sources, the president of North Korea considers domestic dogs a sign of “western decay,” that is, a sign of social status that should not be allowed under his regime.
Again, these anonymous reporters argue that people from the lower social strata surround themselves with pigs and chickens, while high-ranking officials and wealthy people have dogs, causing discomfort among the poorest and highlighting economic differences between sectors of the population in the capital of the country.
worst suspicions
Other media, on the other hand, speculate with a much more macabre purpose. According to the United Nations (UN), 40% of North Korea’s inhabitants need food aid as they are below the poverty line. This precarious situation would have been considerably aggravated by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Therefore, these sources fear that the real reason for requesting domestic dogs is to obtain a food source for the population. As strange as it may seem to an outsider, dog meat consumption is relatively common in North Korea, according to several sources.
Still, under no circumstances would this justify the abduction of the animals. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide further information on the matter, as you can see, everything above is based on anonymous sources and various speculations.
Censorship in North Korea
It is essential to state at this point that relations between North Korea and South Korea are delicate at best. From the 1950s to 1953, when the war between the two powers took place, seven decades of instability passed between the two territories. Of course, South Korea’s relationship with the United States has not helped to stabilize things.
In addition, North Korea has been ranked lowest on the World Press Freedom Index for several years. As if that wasn’t enough, access to the internet is restricted, as only a few senior positions have access to it. For all these reasons, the information that reaches other countries about this region is measured with an eyedropper.
These insights are necessary when considering news. We are not defending the supposed measure instituted, as it violates the individual freedoms of humans and animals. However, it is necessary to consider the reports provided with some caution, as they come from anonymous sources that are impossible to verify.
The ban on guardianship of dogs in the North Korean capital is an issue that is still in the air and that keeps all the world’s media in suspense, because, if it were true, it would be a violation of animal rights on many levels.
