"No one must Laugh or drink alcohol" in North Koreans forceful mourning of 10th anniversary of former leader’s death

INTERNATIONAL: A news from North Korea abruptly surpassed the internet citing that the government there is forcing residents to observe an 11-day period of mourning for the 10th anniversary of former leader Kim Jong Il’s death on Dec. 17. Such kind of news for the Indian masses or for the global world has never been an unprecedented phenomenon. North Korea has always been known to the world as a nation ruled by a despotic and tyrant leader.

As of today, the government in tyrannic NorthKorea has totally banned any form of alcohol intake or other expressions like a laugh. Democracy like in India is a distant dream of the Communist North Koreans.

In-Depth

Kim Jong Il succeeded his father, national founder Kim Il Sung, when the elder Kim died in 1994. He ruled the country until his own death in 2011 and was then succeeded by his son, current leader Kim Jong Un.

Kim Jong Il’s rule coincided with one of the darkest periods in North Korea’s history, the 1994-1998 famine, which killed millions of the country’s citizens, according to some estimates. The period is now referred to by North Koreans as the “Arduous March.”

Though periods of mourning are held every year for both leaders, Kim Il Sung’s lasts only a week. Kim Jong Il’s death was more recent, so it usually has a mourning period of 10 days. This year’s is slightly longer because it is the 10thanniversary. Citizens are prohibited from showing anything other than solemnity in public while the country commemorates his life and achievements.

According to the  RFA, During the mourning period, the government has totally banned alcohol, laugh or engaged in leisure activities, and even grocery shopping has been prohibited on the anniversary day itself.

BACKGROUND:

The citizens in North Korea are quite aware that, 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.

Even the source of RFA stated that “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,” 

Police were told in advance to be on the lookout for people who fail to appear appropriately bereaved, a resident of the southwestern province of South Hwanghae told RFA.

As per the RFA “From the first day of December, they will have a special duty to crack down on those who harm the mood of collective mourning,”

State-owned companies and citizens groups are also ordered to take care of the hungry during the period of mourning.

“Social order and safety must be ensured, so companies are responsible for collecting food to give to residents and employees who cannot come to work due to food shortages,” as per RFA

Even the homeless and street beggars have to work together at par with other citizens.

From the perspective of the Indian masses, This long mourning period seems like a disruption to North Koreans’ daily lives.

For detailed reading source: Follow

https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20211201001900325

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