Thanks to a new regulation banning products with North Korean influence, American children won’t be able to laugh at the antics of the Arctic critters on the television show “Pororo” anytime soon, Radio Free Korea reported Tuesday.
Although the animated series is wildly popular among South Korean children, the show has also drawn criticism for partnering with North Korea-based Samcheolli Chonghwaesa to produce the series.
Now, because of an American resolution banning all goods produced with North Korean help, the goggle-eyed penguin and his woodland friends will be shut out of one of the most lucrative markets for children’s television.
The popular show is currently distributed worldwide to faraway countries such as France.
Although the regulation will mainly target products made in the “Special Economic Zones” cropping across North Korea, it will also have an effect on non-material goods such as Pororo.
“The regulationnot only targets finished products, but also products made with North Korean technology or intellectual property,” the Congressional Research Service stated.