North Korean women urge men to quit

More than 10 women appeared in a North Korea’s anti-smoking campaign video urging men to quit, according to Yonhap News Agency.

“It is very unusual that a group of female citizens appear in the state-owned media and express their opinions,” Jeon Yong-sun, research professor at the Institute of Humanities for Unification in Konkuk University, was quoted as saying.

“The state is trying new methods to decrease the rate of North Korean male smokers, which stood at more than 50 percent.”

In the 40-minute campaign video aired Friday by the Korean Central News Agency, the women spoke about what they think of male smokers.

“I think a person who begins to smoke from the early morning is very rude and has no common sense,” said a woman at the beginning of the video.

Another said: “Men don’t listen to women’s advice to quit smoking. They don’t think smoking is bad for their health.”

In the following interviews, women continued to criticize smoking. They said: “We need to raise our voice against male smokers so men no longer smoke a cigarette;” “We, women, will be really happy if men give up smoking,” and “Mother becomes very anxious when she finds out her son is a smoker.”

As the state recently intensified its non-smoking campaign, some suspect Kim Jong-un, also known as a heavy smoker, has quit for his health.

UPI, an international news agency, reported last December that Kim is suffering health problems due to his soaring weight and smoking.