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North Korea Has Just Banned Its Citizens From Laughing For 11 Days To Commemorate Kim Jong Il's Death
North Korea is known as a totalitarian nation that imposes many strict (and sometimes head-scratching) regulations on its citizens.
From banning trench coats so that its citizens can't copy its leader Kim Jong Un's signature style to banning certain hairstyles, North Koreans had to seemingly live with bans that don't always make sense.
In the latest regulation, North Korea has imposed an 11-day mourning period on its citizens to commemorate the tenth death anniversary of Kim Jong Il, the father of their current leader Kim Jong Un.
During that period, which began on 17 December, citizens are banned from doing 'leisurely' things drinking and yes, even laughing, FOX News reported.
“During the mourning period, we must not drink alcohol, laugh, or engage in leisure activities,” a Sinuiju resident told Radio Free Asia’s (RFA) Korean Service.
Those who fail to observe the rule will be met with very harsh punishment.
“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 resident added.
Image credit: Apollo Magazine
If that isn’t bad enough, citizens are also not allowed to mourn the passing of their loved ones properly as loud crying is also not allowed.
On top of that, they are also not allowed to celebrate their birthdays if it fell on the mourning period.
“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.”
Other regular, every day activities like grocery shopping were also banned on the day of the anniversary, which fell on 17 December.
To ensure that its citizens adhere to the new regulation, the North Korean police will be working overtime to arrest "those who harm the mood of collective mourning."
If these regulations were imposed on us, we would be mourning too.