2011 directive says people sharing this name were to change it, parents were to find other monikers for their kids

Dec 3, 2014 15:58 GMT  ·  By

Just a few hours ago, South Korea’s KBS TV station produced a North Korean internal state document and aired a few extracts. The leaked document, identified as an administrative order issued back in 2011, appears to be a ban on the name Kim Jong-un.

Provided that this directive was in fact issued and implemented 3 years ago, people in North Korea who were named Kim Jong-un at that time would have been compelled to change their name. Besides, parents would have had to find other monikers for their kids.

A most bizarre directive

Information shared with the public says that the administrative order in question was signed by Kim Jong-il, North Korea's former leader and Kim Jong-un's father, in January 2011. It instructed authorities in the country to implement a ban on the name Kim Jong-un.

“All party organs and public security authorities should make a list of residents named Kim Jong-Un and train them to voluntarily change their names,” reads the leaked administrative order made public by South Korea’s KBS TV station.

“Authorities should make sure that there is no one making unnecessary complaints or spreading gossip regarding this project,” the controversial internal state document goes on to instruct, as cited by DM.

It is understood that it was Kim Jong-il's will to have people sharing the name of his son, Kim Jong-un, officially change it to something else in identity cards, documents and even school diplomas. Besides, the order banned parents from giving this name to their offspring.

Not such a far-fetched scenario

Kim Jong-un's father passed away in December 2011, not long after allegedly signing this directive. Still, KBS collaborator Park Jin-hee, who fled North Korea in 2008, says that he is quite convinced that this order was in fact implemented.

The man explains that, seeing how similar orders were issued with respect to the names of Kim Jong-un's grandfather and father, Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il, it should not come as a surprise if the name of the country's current leader were to be banned as well.

The thing is that, at least for the time being, there is no way to say for sure whether or not the internal state document produced by South Korea's KBS TV station is the real deal. Seoul's Unification Ministry is yet to make any comments on the matter at hand.

Members of Kim dynasty have been the absolute rulers of North Korea for about 6 decades now. People in this country are not only required to have the portraits of leaders like Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il in their homes, but also wear label pins showing their image.

Word has is the name Kim Jong-un is banned in North Korea (5 Images)

Document hints at a ban on the name Kim Jong-un in North Korea
The ban was reportedly set in place by the leader's fatherThe order is said to have been issued in September 2011
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