North Korea bans smoking in public spaces

The Supreme People’s Assembly in North Korea has introduced a smoking ban in some public areas and spaces in order to provide citizens with “hygienic living environments.”

The new law aims to protect the health and lives of North Koreans, state media Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.

Both legal and social controls on the production and sale of cigarettes have also been tightened, according to the quoted legislature.

Smoking is banned in specific venues, including political and ideological education centres, theatres and cinemas as well as medical and public health facilities.

This measure comes in despite more than 43 per cent of the country’s male population being smokers, according to World Health Organisation figures from 2013.

Leader Kim Jong-un is known to be a heavy smoker, often pictured by the state media with a cigarette in hand.

Jong-un has been seen holding a cigarette during visits to schools and once to a children’s hospital.

Earlier this year in August, state media released photos of the leader dangling a cigarette from his hand while discussing in a meeting the coronavirus health crisis.

KCNA announced that another new regulation had also been introduced, which asks businesses to take on extra land, energy and cost-saving practices.