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North Korea has banned its citizens from making sarcastic remarks about the regime of Dictator Kim Jong Un.

A warning against indirect criticism of the state in their everyday conversations has been issued, according to Asian media.

A series of mass meetings were held by officials across the isolated communist country.

“One state security official personally organised a meeting to alert local residents to potential ‘hostile actions’ by internal rebellious elements,” a source in Jagang Province told Radio Free Asia’s Korean Service.

“The main point of the lecture was ‘Keep your mouths shut.’”

People were reportedly warned that sarcastic expressions, including “this is all America’s fault”, would constitute intolerable criticism of the regime.

Expressions of public discontent have apparently grown louder in the secretive state this year, with graffiti mocking Kim Jong Un appearing in areas near China.

Less than two weeks ago, two senior North Korean officials were executed with an anti-aircraft gun in early August on the orders of Kim Jong-un.

South Korea’s JoongAng Ilbo newspaper has reported that Ri Yong Jin, a senior official in the education ministry, was arrested for dozing off during a meeting with Kim and charged with corruption before being killed.

Former Agriculture Minister Hwang Min was purged over a proposed project seen as a direct challenge to Kim’s leadership, the paper said.