New Delhi: As North Korea celebrates the 10th death anniversary of its former leader Kim Jong-il this month, its residents have been banned from laughing or drinking in public for 11 days, Radio Free Asia reported. The country marks a period of mourning each year to commemorate the death anniversary of its former leader, but since it was the 10th anniversary, the period of mourning became slightly longer.
Kim Jong-il died on 17 December 2011.
During the mourning period, North Korea should show no signs of violating the national mood of mass mourning. A resident of the northeastern border town of Sinuiju told the RFA: “During the mourning period, we should not drink alcohol, laugh or engage in leisure activities.” The resident said that people were not even allowed to go for grocery shopping and grocery shops would remain closed on December 17.
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People cannot celebrate birthdays during the mourning period and cannot cry out loud if someone in their family dies during this period. ,Even if a member of your family dies during the mourning period, you are still not allowed to cry out loud and should be thrown out after it is over. People cannot even celebrate their birthdays if they fall into the period of mourning,” the resident was quoted as saying.
Another resident of the southwestern province of South Hwanghe told the RFA that police had already been asked to search for violators. “From the first day of December, it will be their special duty to crack down on those who damage the mood of mass mourning,” said the resident.
Kim Jong-il succeeded his father Kim Il-sung in 1994 and ruled until his death in 2011. He was succeeded by the current leader of North Korea, Kim Jong-un. During Kim Jong-il’s tenure, North Korea went through the darkest period in its history – the 1994-1998 famine killed millions of people in the country.
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