Commencing on Friday, December 17, 2021, North Korea will officially impose a highly strict 11 ban that consists of drinking alcohol, laughing, and shopping. The short law is said to have come to light in an attempt to mourn the anniversary of their former leader, Kim Jong Il’s, passing; it will only be targeted towards and said to be followed by all of the country’s current citizens. North Korea’s present leader Kim Jong-Un is the son of Kim Jong Il, who unexpectedly passed away on December 17, 2011, at only 69-years-old, sending the throne down to his prideful 27-year-old son at the time.
An anonymous resident of the country was quoted expressing how “people cannot even celebrate their own birthdays if they fall within the mourning period.” Even though North Korea’s Supreme leader seems to have good intentions behind this overall act of mourning, it is starting to look as if there will be more punishments involved with trying to maintain his 11 days of sadness. The unnamed resident also stated to the press how if any citizens are caught violating one of his restrictions, you will be “arrested and treated as ideological criminals… Taken away and never seen again,” the citizen claimed.
This specific, shortly imposed law has been an annual occurrence since the initial passing of Kim’s father, in which the country normally spends 10 days in the mourning process; this year was extended because it marks the 11-year anniversary of his death. This, in particular, law enforcement officers were reportedly asked to “crackdown” on citizens disobeying their leader’s commands. “It is a month-long duty for the police,” the anonymous source expressed.