Man who smuggled Squid Game into North Korea sentenced to death by firing squad

A man who smuggled a copy of Squid Game into North Korea has been sentenced to death by a firing squad. The man was caught after authorities found seven high school students watching the show, according to Radio Free Asia (via Variety). 

RFA quoted sources who said that the show was smuggled into the country through China in a USB flashdrive.

"A student who bought a drive received a life sentence, while six others who watched the show have been sentenced to five years hard labor, and teachers and school administrators have been fired and face banishment to work in remote mines," said RFA.

The North Korean government has a special task force that tracks down people violating its recently passed Elimination of Reactionary Thought and Culture act, which has banned the entry and exit of films, movies, music, and books to and from the country. 

Variety notes that this act specifically targets the distribution and consumption of these cultural mediums from the US and South Korea. Those caught will be given the death penalty.

A source told RFA that a lenghty investigation will follow after the arrest where everyone involved in the smuggling will be asked where they got the copy from and who else may have access to it. 

Netflix is yet to comment on this incident. 

Squid Game received wide acclaim and was the streamer's most-watched show after it's release in September this year.