North Korean newspaper warns of danger of game addiction

Kim Jong-un / Yonhap

The official newspaper of North Korea's ruling party on Monday warned of the danger of game addiction across the world.

"Most electronic games which flourish in capitalist nations destruct youths' sound mind, and harm them ideologically and mentally," the Rodong Sinmun newspaper of the Workers' Party said in an analysis piece.

It cited the World Health Organization's decision late last year to classify gaming addiction as a mental disorder.

Obsessed with games, youngsters neglect their studies and fail to nurture their ability to think realistically and adapt to society, the paper pointed out.

"Mobile phone games are also causing serious problems worldwide. Those who are engrossed in them for long hours can be viewed as being caught in gaming dependence that does mental and physical harms to humans," the daily said.

A North Korean defector who ran an Internet cafe in the North has said that such online game parlors have recently mushroomed in Pyongyang and other cities. Mobile games have also spread with the increased use of mobile phones, he added. (Yonhap)

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