They are already forced to wear regime-approved hairstyles, chosen from a state-sanctioned list of drab cuts.

Now North Koreans have been banned from having piercings as part of a crackdown on Western culture in the secretive regime ahead of its annual workers' conference.

The rule, which also forbids wearing Western clothing such as jeans, has reportedly focused on the North Hamgyong and Yanggang provinces.

Both areas border with China, where citizens to have easier access to information - and cultural trends - from the outside world.

The ban was uncovered by citizen journalists at Rimjin-gang, a North Korean news website supported by AsiaPress.