Brilliant: Kim Jong Un bans sarcasm in North Korea

[steve2470]

http://www.vanityfair.com/news/2016/09/kim-jong-un-sarcasm-ban

NOT THE ONION!

Kim Jong Un just can’t take a joke. The last time the North Korean dictator found himself on the receiving end of some gentle ribbing, as the subject of James Franco and Seth Rogen’s assassination comedy The Interview, Kim’s repressive regime allegedly hacked Sony Pictures, apparently in retaliation. Now, the absolutist leader is taking his hostility toward humor to a farcical new extreme, banning all sarcasm throughout the Hermit Kingdom in an attempt to crack down on dissent and quash any further laughs at his expense.

The Independent reports that North Korean party officials held several mass meetings across the country in an attempt to warn citizens that criticizing the state via indirect, ironic statements such as “This is all America’s fault” would be illegal and “unacceptable.” And the consequences for disobeying are particularly unfunny: according to the nonprofit group Liberty in North Korea, any criticism of the government—including, apparently, the North Korean version of “Thanks, Obama”—“is enough to make you and your family ‘disappear’ from society and end up in a political prison camp.”

Even common idioms are not safe from the sarcasm crackdown: Radio Free Asia reported that, during one of the meetings, the party banned the common expression “a fool who cannot see the outside world,” which the regime believes constitutes criticism of Kim’s refusal to attend international celebrations marking the end of World War II. (Even party officials within the hyper-authoritarian state were reportedly “shocked” by Kim’s decision.)

Ever since the death of his father, Kim Jong Il, the younger, more rotund Kim has been notable for elevating his predecessor’s authoritarianism to disturbing new levels. In the first five years of his rule, Kim reportedly executed seven times the number of people his father executed in his first few years as Supreme Leader. One deputy minister was reportedly burned alive by a flamethrower, and another, a turtle farmer, was shot “to set an example” after he tried to explain why his turtles had died. North Korea has also grown bolder on the international stage, recently firing three ballistic missiles into the sea—the latest of several major missile tests this year—while the G20 economic summit was underway in neighboring China. The successful launches raised alarms, particularly after a previous test missile crashed just moments after takeoff, an embarrassing spectacle for the Kim regime—or, as North Koreans are no longer allowed to say, “This is all America’s fault.”

[marybourg]

1. Don't worry. Trump knows

more about Kim Jong Un than the State Dept. and the Pentagon combined. He can read his body language (in Korean). Believe me!

[steve2470]

2. Trump knows how to BS people expertly too! :) nt

[Wounded Bear]

9. But did he look into his soul?

[Throd]

3. What happens if you tell Kim "You look great!" ?

[0rganism]

4. just make sure you're sincere when you say it

but what are you doing in NK anyway?

[lpbk2713]

7. "I love what you've done with your hair."

[roamer65]

10. Pig in a wig.

[GulfCoast66]

13. That hair cut

Looks great, on you.

[Rex]

16. He with the biggest hair wins...oh and the one that owns the anti-aircraft weapons.

That helps.

NK news - "Dear Leader seen handing out Happy Meals to the children of North Korea while riding on a unicorn."

[Kaleva]

17. Now we know where the hair from Brazilian wax jobs goes

[Motley13]

5. Dennis Rodman can handle it

He's a trump supporter.

The 3 amigos trump, putin, kim

[trof]

6. Uh oh. When tRump is caught in contradicting himself he says it's 'sarcasm'.

I guess he's in big trouble with Kim now.

[lindysalsagal]

8. The most astounding thing is that his own people tolerate him at all

He doesn't even have that much wealth, and certainly no worldly connections, to offer them.

When the stories finally come out about why his generals propped him up, they'll likely be so horrific, it's hard to believe.

[sarcasmo]

11. The man with the bad haircut and lifts bans sarcasm

Is Trump running North Korea?

[Rex]

12. Pathetic. I bet Trump likes it.

[milestogo]

14. Can they still use the sarcasm emoticon?

[Kaleva]

15. First they came for the sarcasm and I said nothing

Then they came for the irony and I said nothing.

Then they came for the satire and I said nothing.

[okaawhatever]

18. +100 nt