Kim Jong-Un, the North Korean dictator, singlehandedly declared that pet dogs are a symbol of a bourgeois spirit spilt into the communist nation and thus ordered them to be confiscated.
Owners fear that their beloved pets will be butchered to resolve the food shortage.
The sudden declaration was reportedly made in July. As North Korea is an autocratic nation where the words of Kim dictate everything, it has now become illegal to own pets in individual households as they are bourgeois-like.
Sources familiar with the situation inside North Korea said that the state authorities have already identified pet owners around the nation, and have gone so far as to forcefully take the dogs away or even kill them when the owners refuse to voluntarily hand over their pets.
The whereabouts of the dogs are not 100% clear, but many believe that they are being sent to slaughterhouses to be sold as meat. While the consumption of dog meat is a tradition in Northeast Asia, it has been in decline in the more developed countries such as South Korea.
In North Korea, dog meat is still considered a delicacy. In the North Korean capital of Pyongyang, there are several restaurants that specialize in recipes that use dogs. Locals believe that the meat, often served in a stew like form, supposedly brings stamina during the summer.
While it is said that the North Korean residents are infuriated at Kim’s decision, there is essentially nothing that they can do to protest what was decreed by its supreme leader.
Adding to the confusion and anger of the people is that pet owning is not something that the party has traditionally discouraged. In fact, the state encouraged residents to grow pets back in 1989, when it aimed to brighten its image before a large international event in Pyongyang.
Outside observers believe that the food shortage situation in North Korea is currently at a critical condition. From international sanctions to recent damages from heavy downpour, various factors have worsened the economic situation in North Korea.
Even the relatively well-off population who resides in Pyongyang are said to be going through financial difficulties, which is a major threat to the regime.
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Replaced!