North Korea's Supreme Leader Bans Sarcasm

Sarcasm, which can be very hurtful, has been prohibited by North Korea's sensitive dictator, Kim Jong Un.All mocking conversation has been banned in the country.All criticism of the state has been prohibited, directly or indirectly, including bouts of sarcastic wit and jokes.North Korea's citizens were warned in a series of mass meetings held with government officials across the country.A state security official "personally organized" a meeting in Jagang province to inform residents that potentially "hostile" actions by "internal rebellious elements" could occur, and to warn North Koreans to keep their mouths shut.

Effects of Sarcasm Tearing Country Apart

The phrase "this is all America's fault," would constitute a violation of the new law.“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,” an anonymous source said.The expression "a fool who cannot see the outside world" has been circulating in North Korea, in reference to its off-kilter dictator, Kim Jong-un.Local media has reported an uptick in acts of expression that contradict or criticize the regime lately. Two incidences of anti-government graffiti were reported.The news came just hours before North Korea appeared to have tested its fifth nuclear weapon, in clear violation of UN resolutions. A magnitude 5 earthquake was reported in the area around a North Korean nuclear test site on Thursday, which most likely indicates a nuclear weapons test.A spokesman for the United States National Security Council said that the U.S. was "aware of seismic activity on the Korean Peninsula in the vicinity of a known North Korean nuclear test site. We are monitoring and continuing to assess the situation in close coordination with our regional partners."Pyongyang conducted nuclear tests in 2006, 2009 and 2013 as well.Analysts do not believe that North Korea has the capability of producing a hydrogen bomb or of creating a missile that could reliably carry a nuclear weapon. Around 28,000 US troops are stationed in South Korea because the two countries remain perpetually at war, despite a decades-long cease fire.