North Korea Launches Anti-Smoking Campaign Ahead of World No Tobacco Day on the 31st
'Inminboheung' Introduces Provisions of Anti-Smoking Law Adopted in November Two Years Ago
Ri Sol-ju Says "Even Though I Always Wish for Quitting Smoking, It Is Not Heeded"
On the 17th, Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea, holding a cigarette at the Workers' Party Political Bureau Standing Committee meeting [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Joo-eun Lee] North Korea is conducting anti-smoking campaigns this year, marking the 2nd anniversary of the enactment of its anti-smoking law to reduce smoking rates. However, the top leader, Kim Jong-un, has been seen smoking cigarettes without hesitation.
Even as COVID-19 is rapidly spreading in North Korea, on the 14th, during a Politburo meeting of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party, Kim Jong-un was spotted smoking indoors without wearing a mask.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) report "Global Tobacco Use Trends" in 2019, the smoking rate among North Koreans aged 15 and older was 18.4% in 2018. The rate was 0% for women and 38.1% for men. This means that 3 to 4 out of every 10 North Korean men smoke.
On the 25th, North Korea's magazine Inmin Bogeon (People's Health) detailed the anti-smoking law consisting of 31 articles, citing Ri Hee-kyung, head of the Anti-Smoking Research and Dissemination Center.
The anti-smoking law, adopted in November 2020, includes regulations prohibiting smoking in childcare and educational institutions, medical and health institutions, as well as public places, commercial, catering, convenience service facilities, locations with fire hazards, and explosive risk areas.
Inmin Bogeon emphasized, "Central health institutions and anti-smoking research and dissemination organizations are establishing a nationwide, society-wide anti-smoking service system and actively conducting anti-smoking publicity, counseling, and treatment services." It also reported, "Anti-smoking activities have become a mandatory duty for all citizens for their health and the construction of a civilized society, and the atmosphere is increasingly intensifying."
Meanwhile, Chairman Kim is also known as a heavy smoker. During the 2018 inter-Korean summit, when then Blue House National Security Office Director Chung Eui-yong advised Kim Jong-un to quit smoking, Kim’s wife, Ri Sol-ju, reportedly said, "She always asks him to quit smoking, but he does not listen."
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