North Korean Teens Sentenced to 12 Years of Hard Labor for Watching South Korean Entertainment

North Korean authorities publicly sentenced two 16-year-olds to 12 years of hard labor for watching K-pop and South Korean movies, as shown in video footage released by the SAND Institute. The tough sentencing is part of North Korea's crackdown on outside influences, particularly South Korean culture, under a new "anti-reactionary thought" law. The video, which cannot be independently verified, depicts a public trial with about 1,000 students in attendance, all wearing face masks. The sentencing reflects North Korea's ongoing battle against foreign cultural influences, as it seeks to maintain control over its society.