Jakarta, CNN Indonesia —
North Korea enters a period of mourning for eleven days to remember a decade Kim Jong-il died on Friday (17/12). Government Kim Jong-un prohibit residents from doing activities that damage the atmosphere of mourning, including laughing.
A North Korean resident in Sinuiju City, who did not want to be identified, told Radio Free Asia on the application of the rules during this time of mourning.
“During the mourning period, we are not allowed to drink alcohol, laugh or engage in fun activities,” the resident said.
He later said that the North Korean government usually monitors the movement of citizens during this mourning period closely.
“In the past, many people caught drinking or drunkenness during mourning were eventually arrested and considered perpetrators of ideological crimes. They were taken away and never seen again,” said the resident.
He also shared, “Even if a member of your family dies during the mourning period, you should not cry too hard and the body can only be taken after the mourning period is over. People cannot celebrate birthdays if it falls during the mourning period.”
In order to build an atmosphere of mourning, the police have been making preparations since early December. The police are ordered to take immediate action against residents who act in violation of the rules.
“From the first day of December, they have to take action against residents who destroy the atmosphere of mourning. That’s their special task for a month. I heard that law enforcement officers can’t sleep at all,” he said.
To maintain the atmosphere of mourning, residents are also prohibited from shopping for daily necessities. The government also ordered state-owned companies to take care of starving people during the mourning period.
“Security must remain guaranteed, so companies are responsible for collecting food and giving it to people and employees who cannot work because of food shortages,” he said.
North Koreans complain about this rule. According to residents, this rule is very detrimental to their time to raise money, looking for food in the midst of a crisis.
“I just hope the mourning period for Kim Jong-il is only a week, like the mourning period for Kim Il-sung. People complain because they are forced to mourn their deaths like dead people,” said another resident.
In previous years, the mourning period in memory of North Korea’s leaders usually only lasted for a week. However, this mourning period was extended because it was considered special, namely a decade.
As reported Reuters, Kim Jong-il himself led North Korea after his father who was the founder of the nation, Kim Il-sung, died in 1994. Since then, he led North Korea until his death in 2011.
After Kim Il-sung’s death, Kim Jong-un ascended the throne. Thus, this decade of Kim Il-sun is also a welcome sign for the celebration of Kim Jong-un’s decade in power.
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