North Korea bans citizens from laughing, drinking and shopping for 11 days; know why

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, also known as North Korea has banned its citizens from laughing, shopping, drinking or any kind of merrymaking from Friday as part of an 11-day mourning period commemorating the 10th anniversary of former leader Kim Jong-il.

Kim Jong-il ruled North Korea from 1994 (after the death of his father Kim Il-sung) until his death in 2011.

He died of a heart attack at the age of 69 On December 17, 2011. He was succeeded by his youngest son Kim Jong-un.

Generally, a 10-day mourning period is observed every year, but this year the mourning period has been extended to 11 as this is the 10th death anniversary of Un’s father.

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“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,” a resident of North Korea quoted in Radio Free Asia.

Reports also suggest that people cannot even celebrate their own birthdays if it falls within the mourning period.

As per reports, all leisure activities are prohibited for the next 11 days and anyone found to violate the rule will be arrested like every year.

There are also reports of people caught drinking or being intoxicated during the mourning period being arrested and treated as ideological criminals. They were taken away and reports say are never seen again.