Citizens and residents of North Korea have been banned from laughing and drinking alcohol for 11 days to mark the tenth death anniversary of their former leader, Kim Jong II.
This order, which forbade North Koreans to show any signs of happiness, was given by the government authorities to commemorate the death of Kim Jong II, who ruled the country from 1994 until his death in 2011, Daily Mail reported.
After his death, the current leader Kim Jong Un, his third and youngest son, took over the leadership.
“During the mourning period, we must not drink alcohol, laugh or engage in leisure activities,’ a North Korean from the northeastern border city of Sinuiju told Radio Free Asia.
The source added, “In the past, many people who were caught drinking or being intoxicated during the mourning period were arrested and treated as ideological criminals. They were taken away and never seen again.
“Even if your family member dies during the mourning period, you are not allowed to cry out loud and the body must be taken out after it’s over.
“People cannot even celebrate their own birthdays if they fall within the mourning period.”
The source also noted that North Koreans were banned from grocery shopping on December 17 – the exact date of the ex-leader’s death.
Copyright PUNCH.
