Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Kim Jong-un reinstates 'pleasure troupe' harem of young women

Notorious North Korean dictator has revived the practise first started by his grandfather Kim Il-sung

Rose Troup Buchanan
Thursday 02 April 2015 05:54 EDT
Comments
A smiling Kim Jong-un is seen being mobbed by a large group of crying women wearing white boiler suits
A smiling Kim Jong-un is seen being mobbed by a large group of crying women wearing white boiler suits (Reuters)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un has ordered a new “pleasure troupe” of young women to entertain him.

Kim, 32, whose country is notorious for its allegedly widespread and horrific human rights abuses, is reportedly drawing up lists of a new generation of female companions, The Daily Telegraph reports.

Despite being married to a former singer with whom he has a baby daughter, the dictator is drawing on a tradition established by his father – Kim Jong-iI – that saw government officials scour the countryside and select girls for the leader.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un smiles during his inspection of a unit of Korean People's Army
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un smiles during his inspection of a unit of Korean People's Army (Getty)

The previous “pleasure troupe” was disbanded on the death of the old dictator in December 2011, but with the official three-year mourning period now over, Kim is free to start his own.

The “pleasure troupes” were a practise introduced by Kim’s grandfather, North Korea’s founding father, the ‘Eternal President’ Kim Il-sung.

"This has been going on under three generations of the Kim family ruling North Korea and it has become a tradition that is also a demonstration of the leader's power over the people and his sexual power," Toshimitsu Shigemura, a professor at Tokyo's Waseda University, told The Daily Telegraph.

It is thought that the previous “pleasure troupe” were paid-off following Kim Jong-il’s death. South Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo claimed the women were given approximately $4,000 (a huge sum in North Korea) and various household appliances.

Last November the United Nations voted overwhelming to try the North Korean leadership on charges of human rights abuses. As yet, there has been little tangible effect.

Approximately 120,000 political prisoners still languish in camps, known as kwan-li-so, according to a UN report last year.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in