Report: Superstition a bigger crime than prostitution in North Korea

A directive from North Korea’s Kim Jong Un lists superstition as a major criminal act, sources in the country say. File Photo by KCNA

May 26 (UPI) — Seeking an answer about an uncertain future from a soothsayer is a more serious crime than prostitution in North Korea, according to sources in the country.

The act of seeking out diviners or providing fortunetelling services is now one of four major criminal acts, because engaging in the activities subverts the state policy of Kim idolization, Radio Free Asia reported Friday.

A source in North Korea’s Yanggang Province said the ordinance was directly handed down to relevant state authorities from Kim Jong Un.

“Instructions from Kim Jong Un to the central leadership have been delivered to local-level security bureaus, the People’s Security Bureau and to the Prosecutor’s Office,” the source said. “The directive states the situation has come to a point where judicial authorities can no longer maintain discipline and included reprimands.”

Law enforcement agencies have been told to fight “anti-socialist activity, drugs, gambling and fortunetelling services, so that they may never rear their heads,” according to the source, who added the recent ordinance called for “anti-espionage struggles” against “impure elements.”

A source in North Korea’s Jagang Province said the directive from Kim urged citizens to “not shrink” in the current environment and called on “young people” to take the lead against what the state defines as corruption.

The source said one of the four major crimes, prostitution, has “been taken out, and superstition has taken its place.”

“This is a warning from the state that no other belief system would be allowed, other than idolization of the supreme leader,” RFA’s source said.

North Korea began purging fortunetellers in October, after they began claiming North Korea may wage a nuclear war in 2017, or a natural disaster may strike the country.

North Koreans reportedly visit soothsayers to identify an auspicious date to permanently leave the country.

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