North Korea has reportedly banned the consumption of hot dogs as part of a broader effort to suppress Western cultural influences.
According to reports, leader Kim Jong Un has deemed serving the food an act of treason, with violators facing imprisonment in labor camps.
The crackdown also extends to divorcees, who can be jailed for up to six months under the regime’s strict anti-socialist policies.
The prohibition includes budae-jjigae, a Korean-American fusion dish known as “army base stew,” which features hot dogs and spam.
Originating during the Korean War, the dish was created using leftover meats from U.S. military bases. Though it gained popularity in South Korea, budae-jjigae reportedly crossed into North Korea in 2017. Authorities have also banned other South Korean-inspired street foods like steamed rice cakes (tteokbokki), with vendors warned against selling these items.
In December, reports surfaced of harsher penalties for divorce, with women receiving longer sentences than men.
A woman who spent three months in a labor camp in South Pyongan province described the punishment, revealing that around 80 women and 40 men were detained, many due to divorce-related offenses.
