North Korea Declares Mourning Period To Mark Death Of Kim Jong-il, Violators Will Be Labeled As Ideological Criminals And Could Be 'Disappeared'

JAKARTA - North Koreans are banned from laughing or drinking for 11 days to mark the tenth anniversary of the death of former leader Kim Jong-il.

Government authorities have ordered the public not to show signs of happiness as North Korea commemorates the death of one of its great leaders.

Kim Jong-il ruled North Korea from 1994 until his death in 2011, before being succeeded by his third and youngest son, current leader Kim Jong Un.

Now, ten years after his death, North Koreans are forced to undergo an 11-day period of mourning during which they are not allowed to laugh or drink alcohol.

"During the mourning period, we must not drink alcohol, laugh or engage in recreational activities," a North Korean resident from the northeastern border city of Sinuiju told Radio Free Asia (RFA), quoted by the Daily Mail December 17.

The source added that North Koreans are not allowed to shop for groceries on December 17, the anniversary of Kim Jong-il's death.

"In the past, many people caught drinking or drunkenness during times of mourning were treated as ideological criminals. They were taken away and never to be seen again," he said.

"Even if a member of your family dies during the bereavement period, you are not allowed to cry loudly and the body has to be taken out after it's over. People can't even celebrate their own birthday if they fall in mourning," he explained.

Kim Jong Il died of a heart attack on December 17, 2011, at the age of 69, after ruling the country for 17 years in a brutal and repressive dictatorship.

While the annual mourning period for Kim Jong Il is usually 10 days, this year it will be 11 days to mark the tenth anniversary of his death.

Another source, a resident of the southwestern province of South Hwanghae said police officers were told to keep an eye on people who did not look upset during the mourning period.

They told RFA: 'From the first day of December, they will have a special duty to take action against those who spoil the atmosphere of collective mourning.

"This is a special police duty for a month. I heard that law enforcement officers can't sleep at all," he said.

The source also added that citizen groups and state-owned companies have been ordered to care for the poor during the mourning period, as the country grapples with a food crisis.

They said: "Order and social security must be ensured, so that companies are responsible for collecting food to give to residents and employees who are unable to come to work due to food shortages. Citizens should also work together to help kotjebi "North Korean street beggars)."

Separately, an unnamed resident said mourning for Kim Jong Il and his father Kim Il Sung affected North Korea's daily life.

"I just hope that the mourning period for Kim Jong Il will be shortened to one week, like the mourning period for Kim Il Sung. People complain that the living are forced to mourn these two dead people to death," he said.

To note, three generations of the Kim family have ruled North Korea since Kim Il Sung founded the country in 1948. When Kim Il Sung died in 1994, his eldest son, Kim Jong Il, inherited power.

Kim Jong Un is Kim Jong Il's third and youngest son and took power after his father's death in 2011.

To commemorate the tenth anniversary of Kim Jong Il's death, various provinces in North Korea hold photography exhibitions and hold concerts in his memory.

"The old army propaganda and lecture team, consisting of military officers in their 50s and 60s, visited every factory, company, and environmental monitoring unit to educate people about Kim Jong Il's hard work and dedication," said a third source, RFA.

A resident from Puryong Regency said that lectures and performances had already started at his residence.

"They come and sing songs praising Kim Jong Il and hold short lectures about his greatness and achievements. It might be a better idea to supply the population with coal or firewood to get through the winter than lectures and propaganda, which are really useful like talking parrot."