N.KOREA: Kim Jong-un bans jeans, lponytails and piercings in latest crackdown on Western fashion

North Koreans have now been banned from having piercings, while earrings are not banned, piercings on any other part of the body are to be prohibited, wearing jeans, having ponytails and some other 'western' fashion have all been banned as part of a crackdown on Western culture ahead of its annual workers' conference. They also check the length of skirts, the shape of shoes, Tshirts and hairstyles according to Asia Press

According to Ishimaru Jiro, a Japanese journalist working with citizen reporters inside North Korea, 'A growing number of North Korean people are infatuated with Western culture. The crackdown will continue until the end of the upcoming gathering (the 7th Congress).'

Kim Jong-un launched the crackdown focusing on areas close to China border where citizens have easier access to information - and cultural trends - from the outside world.

The ban was uncovered by citizen journalists at Rimjin-gang, a North Korean news website supported by AsiaPress.

The regime fiercely opposes Western culture in any form and has been known to send those guilty of what King anti-socialist" behaviour to its notorious labour camps. 

"A growing number of North Korean people are infatuated with Western culture," said Ishimaru Jiro, a Japanese reporter who works with citizen journalists inside the regime.

"The crackdown will continue until the end of the upcoming gathering," he added, referring to the upcoming 7th Congress of the Workers' Party.
It was also claimed that "inspection units," consisting of teenagers dedicated to leader Kim Jong-un, are prowling the streets for those who dare to break the dress code.
They are also required to have a particular hairstyle.

The North Korean Youth Union (NKYU) who consist of members who sign up once they reach the age of 15, also hunt for unmarried women doing business in marketplaces, as this is also forbidden.
Members of this Union are sworn to prevent "the corruption of public morals."

North Korea has previously told its male citizens to adopt spartan Socialist hairstyles no longer than three of four inches.
 The campaign, dubbed "Let's trim our hair in accordance with the socialist lifestyle" which is meant to control grooming and dress standards.