Page 32 - ARUBA TODAY

A32 FEATURE
Friday 30 June 2017
North Korea, a Smokers’ Paradise, Now Urging People to Quit

ERIC TALMADGE of nonsmokers is remark-
Associated Press ably increasing with each
PYONGYANG, North Ko- passing day.”
rea (AP) — North Korea, “I would guess about 300
one of the last bastions of people visit smoking cessa-
free, unhindered smoking, tions centers a day, nation-
a country where just about wide,” in a country with a
every adult male can and population of about 24 mil-
does light up almost any- lion, Ri told AP.
where he pleases and Cigarettes are a big busi-
where leader Kim Jong Un ness in North Korea.
is hardly ever seen without Unlike many other con-
a lit cigarette in his hand, is sumer products, the array
now officially trying to get of domestically produced
its people to kick the habit. brands that are available
It’s a battle Pyongyang to the public is amazing —
has tried before and won’t from the status-symbol 727s
easily win, especially since, (which take their name
beyond some stepped-up from the anniversary of
propaganda, it doesn’t the armistice that ended
appear to have a lot the Korean War) to brands
of funding. But this time like Pyol (Star), Craven and
around, the effort does Tazo (which means ostrich
have one big thing going and features the bird on
for it: the increasingly vocal North Koreans who were traveling in a bus, stop at the side of a highway for a smoke break in every pack).
North Hwanghae province, North Korea. North Korea, a country where just about every adult male
support of North Korean can and does light up almost anywhere he pleases, is now officially trying to get its people to kick Menthol cigarettes are es-
women, virtually none of the habit. sentially non-existent but,
whom smoke. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) because of the heavy
Ri Yong Ok, a 57-year-old competition among mak-
pharmacist whose heavy- effort to at least provide that time. day this year and a big ers, gimmicks abound —
smoking husband nearly more education of smok- The buzz didn’t last long. anti-smoking poster for no one kind of Pyongyang-
died of lung cancer, is ing’s health risks since an He was pictured smoking smoking day hangs in her brand cigarette has filters
leading the charge. anti-smoking decree was on a visit to a children’s offices. tipped with smiley faces.
“I’ve been on TV, my made by Kim in April. camp in June. According to recent Another brand is now put-
whole family has been on The start of the new drive North Korea joined the government reports, the ting flavored balls in its fil-
TV, so everyone knows who ters that when popped
I am,” Ri, flanked by no- give the smoke a vaguely
smoking posters, told The fruity taste.
Associated Press during an Prices range from around
interview at the small anti- $5 for the 727s and $7 or so
smoking center she man- for the popular Japanese
ages in Pyongyang. The Seven Star brand — despite
center, one of only 11 in all international sanctions on
of North Korea, has some- luxury good exports, it’s
thing you almost never see easy to obtain imported
in the North — a no-smok- cigarettes in Pyongyang
ing sign placed prominent- — while Ostrich and other
ly above its entrance. typical domestic smokes
“I’m optimistic that we can go for $1 or less a pack.
get people to stop,” she Some smokers roll their own
said. “Our goal is educa- blends, a practice that
tion.” is more common in the
The potential health ben- countryside.
efit to the nation could be Though the possibility can’t
tremendous. be ruled out, the sight of
Ri estimated about 54 per- people puffing away on
cent of adult male North paper-rolled, odd-smelling
Koreans smoke — a higher mixtures of tobacco and
figure than the 43.9 per- whatever else they can
cent given by a World Smiley faces are seen on the filtered ends of a packet of Pyongyang-brand cigarettes. North Ko- stuff in with it may contrib-
Health Organization re- rea, one of the last bastions of free, unhindered smoking, is now officially trying to get its people ute to persistent but un-
port released at the end to kick the habit. substantiated reports by
of 2014. Smoking is a social (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E visitors and foreign media
taboo for women and it’s outlets of widespread mari-
illegal for anyone under prompted speculation in World Health Organiza- country has reduced the juana use.
the age of 17. the foreign media that Kim tion’s Framework Conven- amount of land devoted Health warnings are now
North Korea has toyed with himself had quit, since cig- tion on Tobacco Control to growing tobacco. In required on cigarette
the idea of pushing harder arettes were conspicuous- in 2005 and dutifully holds May, state media quoted packs, but remain incon-
to get smokers to kick the ly missing from his hands in events on World No To- a Health Ministry official spicuously placed in small
habit before — Ri’s humble photos carried by the state bacco Day every year. saying the ratio of male lettering on the side of
anti-smoking center has media of his “on-the-spot The infomercial on Ri and smokers in 2013 was down most and only state that
been around since 2007. guidance” visits around her family was broadcast 8 percent when compared smoking can be harmful to
But it has stepped up its the country from around by state-run TV on that with 2009 and “the number the health. q