On 10th death anniversary of Kim Jong-il, North Korea bans laughing, drinking

New Delhi: Citizens of North Korea have been banned from laughing, drinking or shopping ahead of the 11 day mourning period of Kim Jong-il’s tenth death anniversary. Before being succeeded by his son Kim Jong-un, Kim Jong-il ruled the country from 1994 – 2011.

According to the reports, apart from drinking, shopping and laughing, North Koreans are also banned from engaging in any sort of amusement activities. Also, under no circumstances a person would be allowed to cry out loud during the mourning period  even if a family member passes away.

A source of Radio Free Asia told, when some were found violating the imposed restrictions during the mourning period in past, they were treated as ‘ideological criminals’ who were ‘taken away by the authorities and never returned again’.

“Birthdays falling in the mourning period are also banned from being celebrated”, added the source.

An another source from from South Hwanghae told RFA that the police have been keeping a close eyes on those who do not appear to be mourning enough and whose conduct could ‘harm the mood of collective mourning’ since the beginning of December.

Previously this year, Kim Jong-un had reportedly banned the citizens from wearing skin-tight jeans, body-piercing, or even keeping a sporting mullet hairstyles. This was presented as a major of North Korea’s crackdown against ‘capitalistic lifestyle’ and from protecting its youth from ‘offensive western culture’.