Pepperdine Administration Applauds North Korean Alcohol Ban
MALIBU, CA - According to South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS), Kim Jong Un has taken measures to ban gatherings that involve singing and alcohol. Foreign policy experts believe that this is part of a larger North Korean strategy to monitor and prevent local dissent as United Nations sanctions begin to take hold and put further pressure on the North Korean economy.
Since the policy took effect back in December 2017, Pepperdine officials have followed the development with caution yet hopeful optimism. They anticipate that this news will cause skeptical donors to finally financially support the university’s future study abroad program in North Korea.
“I’m pleased that the North Korean regime has taken initiative to protect its people from the evils of alcohol. It appears that Kim Jong Un reads the Bible more often than many lost Americans,” said Chason Smith, 87, a wealthy Pepperdine donor.
Dennis Rodman, 56, the future director at the North Korea program, has responded positively to the new policy as well saying that, “Pepperdine International Programs often struggles with alcohol violations abroad due to lower legal drinking ages and poorly enforced Pepperdine policies at its abroad locations. This new North Korean law will save our future study abroad program from such transgressions. I’m hopeful that our students will benefit from this environment and will grow closer to Christ as a result.”
The policy has met some criticism in recent weeks. The Convocation Office is complaining that the policy further bans spiritual gatherings since the ban also extends to gatherings involving singing. Because much of Church of Christ worship revolves around acapella singing, the office is struggling to find an alternative that will provide students with spiritual renewal and convocation credits.
Kim Jong Un could not be reached for comment.
