In recent weeks, reports have spread claiming that North Korea has gone so far as to outlaw “Zionism,” attaching the death penalty to its promotion. Whether every detail of those claims is confirmed or not, one thing is clear: Pyongyang has been busy expanding its list of capital crimes, and the rhetoric coming out of Kim Jong Un’s government is once again shaking the global stage.

If that sentence made you pause, you’re not alone. How badly do you have to be on the wrong side of history for North Korea — a country known for some of the harshest laws and punishments on earth — to call you out and say, “Even we don’t go that far”? Kim himself has reportedly quipped, “I may be a villain, but not a monster.” In a world where America’s media is tightly curated and our lawmakers write blank checks abroad while cutting corners at home, the irony is as chilling as it is revealing.

What Zionism Really Is — and Why It’s So Contested

At its heart, Zionism was born as a political movement, not a purely religious one. Theodor Herzl, often called the “father of modern Zionism,” wrote in his 1896 pamphlet Der Judenstaat (The Jewish State) that Jewish people needed a homeland of their own to escape persecution. On the surface, this was framed as survival. But from the beginning, the movement carried a shadow: it was not simply about safety, but also about sovereignty and control.

Many of Zionism’s early leaders, such as Ze’ev Jabotinsky, openly wrote that coexistence with the Arab population of Palestine would not be possible, and that a system of “iron walls” and force would be required to establish and maintain a Jewish state. This mindset — that one group’s claim to land overrides the rights of another — is what critics argue turned a movement of survival into a philosophy of domination.

Today, critics point to the consequences of that ideology: the Nakba of 1948, where more than 700,000 Palestinians were displaced; decades of military occupation; and laws that privilege Jewish citizens of Israel above others in areas of land ownership, residency rights, and political representation. Reports from human rights organizations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have even described these conditions as meeting the definition of “apartheid.”

Zionism also draws on biblical claims to the land of Israel, but this is where political and religious interpretations blur. While Jewish scripture contains promises of a “chosen people” and divine inheritance of the land, critics argue that using these ancient texts as a modern-day land deed undermines universal principles of equality and justice.

This is why Zionism is so contested: to supporters, it is the rightful fulfillment of destiny; to opponents, it is a system that elevates one group over others, often by force.

Why North Korea Would Ban It

North Korea has a long history of using law as theater. By broadening capital offenses, the regime consolidates control and reminds its people — and the outside world — who holds the power of life and death. Naming Zionism specifically, if reports are accurate, fits the same pattern: bold rhetoric that places Pyongyang on the side of U.S. adversaries and offers a strange kind of solidarity with anti-Israel states.

But beyond theater, there is symbolism. North Korea’s leaders understand how heavily U.S. politics are entangled with Israel and how divisive Zionism has become worldwide.

The American Connection: AIPAC and Allegiance

Here’s where things get uncomfortable. America loves to point fingers at “propaganda states,” but we rarely admit how tightly scripted our own political narratives have become. Each year, hundreds of U.S. lawmakers travel to Israel, pose for photos, and pledge unwavering support. Reports suggest that as many as 250 members of Congress have attended such delegations, proudly aligning themselves with Israeli interests.

Groups like the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) make sure of it. As one of the most powerful lobbying organizations in Washington, AIPAC channels millions in donations and influence across the political spectrum. OpenSecrets and watchdog groups like TrackAIPAC document these flows clearly: contributions, hosted trips, coordinated talking points. It’s no secret. It’s all right there in plain sight.

And just this year, Congress passed an emergency supplemental funding package sending billions more to Israel — not just for military aid, but also to support healthcare and other benefits for Israeli citizens. The bill identifiers shift with each cycle, but the pattern doesn’t change: American tax dollars flow outward, while Americans at home are told there isn’t enough money for schools, hospitals, or infrastructure.

When Even “Evil” Calls Out Evil

Here’s the haunting part: when a regime as brutal as North Korea says, “We may be evil, but not that evil,” what does that say about us? When even the villains of the world call another system monstrous, perhaps it’s time we stop, breathe, and admit something’s rotten.

Because if Kim Jong Un — hardly a saint — can posture as the voice of reason, then yes, we are in trouble.

History Always Bites Back

This is where my new book, The Forbidden Gospel of John: From Sinai to Nicaea and the Prison of Flesh, comes in. At its core, it’s not just about religion or ancient texts; it’s about how narratives are shaped, who controls them, and how we are taught to obey them without question.

The Titanic tragedy, the birth of the Federal Reserve on Jekyll Island, the endless wars — these are not disconnected footnotes. They are patterns. Stories that, when pieced together, show how power sustains itself at the expense of ordinary people.

So when you hear that North Korea has banned Zionism, or that Congress is sending $16 billion overseas while your community can’t fix its roads, don’t just shrug. Jump down the rabbit hole. Ask why. Ask who benefits. Ask who wrote the story and who profits when you stop questioning it.

A Small, Furious Note on Gaza: Civilians, Genocide Allegations, and Who Pays the Price

What we see unfolding in Gaza is not an abstract policy argument — it is a humanitarian catastrophe. Independent human-rights organizations, UN bodies, and investigative reporters have documented catastrophic civilian casualties, repeated destruction of homes and hospitals, severe restrictions on food, water, and medicine, and mass displacement. Human Rights Watch concluded that certain patterns of conduct by Israeli authorities “may amount to the crime of genocide.” Amnesty International similarly reported that its investigation “demonstrates that Israel has carried out acts prohibited under the Genocide Convention.” The UN Commission of Inquiry has likewise set out findings that raised grave legal concerns about genocidal intent. These are not casual accusations — they come from organizations that document evidence and legal indicators. Human Rights Watch+2Amnesty International+2

So why does the U.S. keep sending large sums of taxpayer money while so much of Gaza’s civilian infrastructure lies in ruins? Part of the answer is political: pro-Israel lobbying and organized diplomatic support in Washington are powerful forces in shaping U.S. policy. Groups such as the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) organize congressional delegations, fund advocacy campaigns, and cultivate relationships with members of Congress. Public tracking sites such as OpenSecrets document donations, PAC spending, and the flow of money around elections and issues; AIPAC and allied groups have for decades been a major presence on Capitol Hill. OpenSecrets+1

Congress has authorized large emergency supplemental packages in response to the conflict; for example, the Israel security supplemental appropriations bills (e.g., H.R. 6126 for FY2024 and later emergency supplemental measures) included billions for security assistance and related expenses. These legislation choices, along with public lobbying and political relationships, help explain why U.S. assistance continues even as human-rights organizations press serious allegations. Congress.gov+1

A few clarifying points often confused in social posts and rants:

• Independent human-rights bodies and UN investigators have published reports and legal assessments that must be read and weighed — they are not “just tweets.” Read Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and the UN Commission of Inquiry reports directly to understand their evidence and conclusions. Human Rights Watch+2Amnesty International+2
• Lobbying and political delegations are public and documented. AIPAC and other pro-Israel organizations are transparent about many of their activities; donation flows and PAC contributions are trackable via OpenSecrets. That doesn’t automatically mean “control” of the U.S. government, but it does mean powerful influence that merits public scrutiny. OpenSecrets+1
• The U.S. Supreme Court protects flag burning as free speech (Texas v. Johnson). There is no broad, constitutional rule that allows the government to criminalize burning the Israeli flag while protecting other flags; legal debates about anti-Semitism and whether certain acts are protected or constitute hate crimes are ongoing in courts and legislatures and should be checked against current case law. (See Texas v. Johnson for the Supreme Court precedent on flag desecration.) Wikipedia

This is a moral test. When civilians — women, children, medical workers — are killed or denied life-saving supplies, the world’s conscience is supposed to react. Instead, we watch diplomatic maneuvers, emergency budgets, and photo ops. If you feel sick about that, you’re not alone. If you want to argue with me, start by reading the reports I’ve cited. Then come back and tell me the evidence you found convincing.

Disclaimer

This post reflects research from multiple sources, but readers are encouraged to verify claims with primary documents, reputable news outlets, and academic works. Interpretations tying together North Korea’s policies, U.S. lobbying, and historical conspiracies are the author’s analysis.

About the Author

Audrey Culpepper Childers (A.L. Childers) is an author who writes at the crossroads of folklore, history, and spiritual rebellion. Her works include Nightmare Legends: Monsters and Dark Tales of the Appalachian Region, and The Forbidden Gospel of John: From Sinai to Nicaea and the Prison of Flesh. She believes truth is rarely where we are told to look — and that the bravest act is to keep asking questions.

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References

• Theodor Herzl, Der Judenstaat (1896)
• Ze’ev Jabotinsky, The Iron Wall (1923)
• UN Resolution 194 (Palestinian right of return, 1948)
• Amnesty International, Israel’s Apartheid Against Palestinians (2022)
• Human Rights Watch, A Threshold Crossed: Israeli Authorities and the Crimes of Apartheid and Persecution (2021)
• Human Rights Watch — Extermination and Acts of Genocide: Israel Deliberately Depriving Palestinians in Gaza of Water (Dec 19, 2024). Human Rights Watch
  Amnesty International — Amnesty concludes Israel is committing genocide in Gaza (Dec 5, 2024). Amnesty International
  UN Commission of Inquiry report and analysis (Sept 2025 reporting on findings). The Guardian
  UN OCHA — humanitarian updates and casualty data for Gaza. UN OCHA OPT
  OpenSecrets — tracking pro-Israel donations and PAC influence. OpenSecrets
  AIPAC official posts and delegation information (public materials on site/Facebook). Facebook
  Congress.gov — H.R. 6126 and other supplemental appropriations related to Israel security assistance. Congress.gov+1
  U.S. Supreme Court — Texas v. Johnson (1989) for the precedent protecting flag burning as free speech. Wikipedia
• Human Rights Watch — “Extermination and Acts of Genocide: Israel Deliberately Depriving Palestinians in Gaza of Water” (Dec 19, 2024), plus 2025 updates. Human Rights Watch+1
• Amnesty International — “Amnesty concludes Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza” and full Q&A/report (Dec 2024). Amnesty International+1
• UN Commission of Inquiry — Press release and report concluding Israel has committed genocide in Gaza (Sept 2025). OHCHR+1
• OpenSecrets — Pages tracking AIPAC-related spending, donations, and lobbying. Amnesty International
• Congress.gov — Israel Security Supplemental (e.g., H.R. 6126), plus subsequent supplemental packages including Israel. Human Rights Watch+1
• Texas v. Johnson (1989) — Flag burning protected as speech. Read summaries and the opinion. United States Courts+2Justia Law+2
• ACLU — Analyses and litigation on anti-BDS state laws and First Amendment implications. American Civil Liberties Union+2American Civil Liberties Union+2