North Korea bans citizens from laughing, drinking alcohol to mark ex-leader’s death anniversary

 

North Korea has banned its citizens from laughing and drinking alcohol for 11 days to mark the 10th death anniversary of Kim Jong II, the country’s former leader.

 

Citizens are also banned from engaging in leisure activities including birthday parties, and are not show any signs of happiness while the country commemorates Jong II’s death.

 

Radio Free Asia quoted a resident as saying grocery shopping is prohibited on the main day of the anniversary (December 17). The source added that those who violated the order in the past were “never seen again”.

 

“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,” the source was quoted as saying.

 

 “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.

 

Kim Jong II ruled North Korea from 1994 until his death in 2011. He was then succeeded by Kim Jong Un, his third and youngest son, who is the current leader.