Laws in North Korea
How North Korea is classified on 28 of the 48 laws this site maps, grouped by subject. Each links to the full answer and its source.
Body & Life
- Abortion
- Legal on request Abortion is available on request, subject to a gestational limit.
- Suicide Laws
- Criminal offense
Money & Games
- Gambling Age
- Gambling prohibited Gambling is prohibited at any age.
Daily Life
- Homeschooling
- Illegal Homeschooling is prohibited.
Animals & Environment
- Fur Farming
- Legal No ban on fur farming.
- Cosmetic Animal Testing
- No ban No ban on testing cosmetics on animals.
- Dog Meat
- Legal / not prohibited Dog meat consumption, slaughter, and sale are all legal in North Korea.
Civic & Family
- Voting Age
- 16–17 The voting age is 17.
- Compulsory Voting
- Compulsory (enforced) North Korea requires everyone over 17 to vote, with dissent treated as treason.
- Minimum Working Age
- 16+ Minimum working age: 16.
Relationships & Sexuality
- Same-Sex Marriage
- Not recognized Same-sex unions have no legal recognition.
- Same-Sex Activity
- Legal Same-sex sexual activity is legal.
- Age of Consent
- 14–15 The age of consent is 15.
- Sex Work
- Illegal Prostitution is illegal and punishable by labor under the Criminal Law.
- Pornography
- Illegal Producing, distributing, and possessing pornography is a criminal offense punishable by labor camps.
- Divorce
- Legal Divorce is legal and available, with no-fault options determined by the court.
- Same-Sex Adoption
- Not permitted Same-sex couples cannot adopt.
- Incest Laws
- Criminal offense
- Marriage Age
- 18+ Minimum marriage age: 18.
Speech & Belief
- Holocaust Denial
- No specific law No specific law against Holocaust denial.
- Conversion Therapy
- No ban No legal ban on conversion therapy.
Justice & Weapons
- Death Penalty
- Retained / in use Retained in law and used.
- Gun Laws
- Highly restrictive / banned Civilians cannot obtain handguns.
- Military Conscription
- Active conscription
Substances
- Cannabis
- Legal (Medical) Cannabis is legal for medical use only; recreational use remains prohibited.
- Drinking Age
- 18–20 Minimum age to buy alcohol: 18.
- Smoking Age
- Under 18 Minimum age to buy tobacco: 17.
- E-Cigarettes
- Sales banned E-cigarette sales are prohibited.
Nearby countries
A visual reference compiled from Wikipedia’s law-by-country articles, not legal advice. Laws change and summaries simplify — check a primary source before relying on anything here.