North Korean Women Allowed to Learn Driving for the First Time

In North Korea, women have started receiving training in driving schools for the first time, reports the South Korean publication Daily NK, citing sources within the country. Previously, they were only permitted to manage traffic.

The instruction is organized by the Socialist Women’s Union of North Korea; however, official authorization for granting driving licenses has yet to be issued. The wait time for examinations can last up to 18 months.

Observers believe this may indicate gradual changes in social policies. Earlier, under Kim Jong Un, restrictions on women riding bicycles, which were imposed in 1996, had been lifted.