Dictator Kim Jong Un ordered divorced spouses to be sent to labor camps to atone for their “crimes.”
The North Korean despot wants both to last up to six months, with the split seen as “anti-socialist”.
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Until recently, only the husband who filed for divorce was punished, even if he was physically abused, a resident of the underground state revealed.
But now, both spouses will face prison once the divorce is finalized.
“I went to the Kimjongsuk District People’s Court… where 12 people got divorce decrees,” a resident of North Ryanggang Province told the RFA news site.
“Immediately after the ruling, they were transferred to the provincial labor training camp.”
The resident said divorce cases have increased rapidly since 2020.
With the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, the entire country was locked down and it was very difficult for most families to earn a living.
Poor economic conditions led to the breakdown of many marriages.
To prevent couples from separating during this turbulent period, the government began punishing divorced women.
“Until last year, when a couple separated, only the person who filed for divorce for the first time was sent to a job training camp,” a resident said.
“Starting this month, all divorced spouses will be sent to job training camps.”
Last year, the state began an educational campaign to specifically prevent women from divorce.
