North Korea bans laughing, shopping and drinking

People in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, also known as North Korea, are prohibited from smiling, shopping, or drinking from Friday onwards as part of an 11-day mourning period commemorating the death of former leader Kim Jong-il.

Kim Jong-il was in charge of North Korea from 1994 to 2011. He died of a heart attack on December 17, 2011, at the age of 69. Just then, his youngest son, Kim Jong-un, took over as the new leader.

According to Radio Free Asia, all leisure activities are prohibited for the next 11 days as the country is observing a mourning period for his tenth anniversary.

Anyone who violates the rule will be detained, as they are every year. "Even if a loved one dies during the mourning period, you are not allowed to cry aloud, and the body must be removed once the mourning period is over. People are not even allowed to celebrate their own birthdays if they come during the mourning period "A North Korean resident was quoted by Radio Free Asia.

Kim has visited his father's memorial every year since his death. He visited a tomb where Kim Jong Il's embalmed body, along with that of Kim Il Sung, is on display. He has called national meetings to honour his father on previous milestone anniversaries, such as the first and fifth.

Because this year marks the tenth anniversary of his death, the period of mourning has been extended to 11 days, otherwise every year, a 10-day mourning period is observed.

This time, state-run media ran pieces honouring Kim Jong Il and urging greater unity behind Kim Jong Un, while state television aired propaganda music and documentaries about the late leader.