North Korea has imposed a ban on laughing, drinking and grocery shopping as the country is entering a mourning period from Friday to mark the 10th death anniversary of former leader Kim Jong-il. The mourning period this year will be 11 days.
Government authorities have ordered the public to not show any signs of happiness for 11 days. As per media reports, if anyone breaks the rule, he/she will be arrested, like every year.
“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,” Radio Free Asia quoted a resident of North Korea.
A source of Mail Online, a resident of the southwestern province of South Hwanghae, said police officers were told to watch for people who fail to look appropriately upset during the mourning period.
Kim Jong-il ruled the country from 1994 to 2011. He died of a heart attack on December 17 in 2011 at the age of 69.
