Entry #12144: Serving openly in military in North Korea

Current Version

Region	North Korea
Issue	Serving openly in military
Status	Ambiguous
Start Date	Sep 14, 1948
End Date	(none)
Description	Some secondary sources claim it is a "Don't Ask Don't Tell" situation. But, based on a North Korean propaganda film from the year 2000, male homosexuality may be against the law in the military, including for prisoners of war. Information is extremely limited, because North Korea heavily censors LGBT content. However there are sources that claim that during the compulsory 10 year military service homosexual acts between men are very common.
Sources	Myers, B. R. The Cleanest Race: How North Koreans See Themselves and Why It Matters. Melville House, 2011. Ultimately sourced from North Korean propaganda film, "Snowstorm in Pyongyang" (2000). Hassig and Oh (2009) The Hidden People of North Korea Martin (2006) Under the Loving Care of the Fatherly Leader, p. 521 https://www.nknews.org/2015/01/are-there-gay-people-in-north-korea/ https://www.nknews.org/2013/11/being-gay-in-the-dprk/

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Revision History (7)

Jul 11, 2024

edited by Punxy2008. Added a reference to actions that are very common within the conscripts of the Korean People's Army.

Helpful?

	Old Value	New Value (Current)
Value	Don't Ask, Don't Tell	(REMOVED)
Special Status	Don't Ask, Don't Tell	Ambiguous
Description	Some secondary sources claim it is a "Don't Ask Don't Tell" situation. But, based on a North Korean propaganda film from the year 2000, male homosexuality may be against the law in the military, including for prisoners of war. Information is extremely limited, because North Korea heavily censors LGBT content.	Some secondary sources claim it is a "Don't Ask Don't Tell" situation. But, based on a North Korean propaganda film from the year 2000, male homosexuality may be against the law in the military, including for prisoners of war. Information is extremely limited, because North Korea heavily censors LGBT content. However there are sources that claim that during the compulsory 10 year military service homosexual acts between men are very common.
Description	Show Difference Some secondary sources claim it is a "Don't Ask Don't Tell" situation. But, based on a North Korean propaganda film from the year 2000, male homosexuality may be against the law in the military, including for prisoners of war. Information is extremely limited, because North Korea heavily censors LGBT content. "Don't Ask Don't Tell" situation. But, based on a North Korean propaganda film from the year 2000, male homosexuality may be against the law in the military, including for prisoners of war. Information is extremely limited, because North Korea heavily censors LGBT content. However there are sources that claim that during the compulsory 10 year military service homosexual acts between men are very common.
Sources	Myers, B. R. The Cleanest Race: How North Koreans See Themselves and Why It Matters. Melville House, 2011. Ultimately sourced from North Korean propaganda film, "Snowstorm in Pyongyang" (2000). Hassig and Oh (2009) The Hidden People of North Korea Martin (2006) Under the Loving Care of the Fatherly Leader, p. 521	Myers, B. R. The Cleanest Race: How North Koreans See Themselves and Why It Matters. Melville House, 2011. Ultimately sourced from North Korean propaganda film, "Snowstorm in Pyongyang" (2000). Hassig and Oh (2009) The Hidden People of North Korea Martin (2006) Under the Loving Care of the Fatherly Leader, p. 521 https://www.nknews.org/2015/01/are-there-gay-people-in-north-korea/ https://www.nknews.org/2013/11/being-gay-in-the-dprk/
Sources	Show Difference Myers, B. R. The Cleanest Race: How North Koreans See Themselves and Why It Matters. Melville House, 2011. Ultimately sourced from North Korean propaganda film, "Snowstorm in Pyongyang" (2000). Hassig and Oh (2009) The Hidden People of North Korea Martin (2006) Under the Loving Care of the Fatherly Leader, p. 521 "Snowstorm in Pyongyang" (2000). Hassig and Oh (2009) The Hidden People of North Korea Martin (2006) Under the Loving Care of the Fatherly Leader, p. 521 https://www.nknews.org/2015/01/are-there-gay-people-in-north-korea/ https://www.nknews.org/2013/11/being-gay-in-the-dprk/

Aug 5, 2023

edited by Daniel455907. Changed to “dont ask dont tell”

Helpful?

	Old Value	New Value
Value	(REMOVED)	Don't Ask, Don't Tell
Special Status	Ambiguous	Don't Ask, Don't Tell

Dec 21, 2022

edited by Ratabzoo. Consolidating two entries. Changing status to 'Ambiguous'.

Helpful?

	Old Value	New Value
Value	Illegal	(REMOVED)
Special Status	(REMOVED)	Ambiguous
Description	Based on a North Korean propaganda film from the year 2000, male homosexuality may be against the law in the military, including for prisoners of war. Information is extremely limited.	Some secondary sources claim it is a "Don't Ask Don't Tell" situation. But, based on a North Korean propaganda film from the year 2000, male homosexuality may be against the law in the military, including for prisoners of war. Information is extremely limited, because North Korea heavily censors LGBT content.
Description	Show Difference Based on a North Korean propaganda film from the year 2000, male homosexuality may be against the law in the military, including for prisoners of war. Information is extremely limited. Some secondary sources claim it is a "Don't Ask Don't Tell" situation. But, based on a North Korean propaganda film from the year 2000, male homosexuality may be against the law in the military, including for prisoners of war. Information is extremely limited, because North Korea heavily censors LGBT content.
Sources	Myers, B. R. The Cleanest Race: How North Koreans See Themselves and Why It Matters. Melville House, 2011. Ultimately sourced from North Korean propaganda film, "Snowstorm in Pyongyang"	Myers, B. R. The Cleanest Race: How North Koreans See Themselves and Why It Matters. Melville House, 2011. Ultimately sourced from North Korean propaganda film, "Snowstorm in Pyongyang" (2000). Hassig and Oh (2009) The Hidden People of North Korea Martin (2006) Under the Loving Care of the Fatherly Leader, p. 521
Sources	Show Difference Myers, B. R. The Cleanest Race: How North Koreans See Themselves and Why It Matters. Melville House, 2011. Ultimately sourced from North Korean propaganda film, "Snowstorm in Pyongyang" Ultimately sourced from North Korean propaganda film, "Snowstorm in Pyongyang" (2000). Hassig and Oh (2009) The Hidden People of North Korea Martin (2006) Under the Loving Care of the Fatherly Leader, p. 521

Dec 15, 2022

edited by Ratabzoo. Added a period.

Helpful?

	Old Value	New Value
Description	Based on a North Korean propaganda film from the year 2000, male homosexuality may be against the law in the military, including for prisoners of war. Information is extremely limited	Based on a North Korean propaganda film from the year 2000, male homosexuality may be against the law in the military, including for prisoners of war. Information is extremely limited.
Description	Show Difference Based on a North Korean propaganda film from the year 2000, male homosexuality may be against the law in the military, including for prisoners of war. Information is extremely limited limited.

Dec 15, 2022

edited by Ratabzoo. Adding information addressing the ambiguous status of this region's military policy

Helpful?

	Old Value	New Value
Description	Based on a North Korean propaganda film from the year 2000, male homosexuality is against the law in the military, including for prisoners of war.	Based on a North Korean propaganda film from the year 2000, male homosexuality may be against the law in the military, including for prisoners of war. Information is extremely limited
Description	Show Difference Based on a North Korean propaganda film from the year 2000, male homosexuality is against the law in the military, including for prisoners of war. may be against the law in the military, including for prisoners of war. Information is extremely limited

Dec 10, 2022

edited by Ratabzoo

Helpful?

	Old Value (Original)	New Value
Start Date	(unknown)	Sep 14, 1948

Dec 10, 2022

created by Ratabzoo

Helpful?

	Original entry
Status	Illegal
Start Date	(unknown)
End Date	(none)
Description	Based on a North Korean propaganda film from the year 2000, male homosexuality is against the law in the military, including for prisoners of war.
Sources	Myers, B. R. The Cleanest Race: How North Koreans See Themselves and Why It Matters. Melville House, 2011. Ultimately sourced from North Korean propaganda film, "Snowstorm in Pyongyang"