To mark the 10th anniversary of the death of former Supreme Leader Kim Jong Il, North Korea banned its citizens from laughing for 10 days from December 17 to mark the 10th anniversary of his death.
This year, the mourning period has been extended to 11 days as this is the 10th death anniversary. Generally, a 10-day mourning period is observed every year.
The ban on laughing is among several restrictions imposed on North Koreans to mark the occasion. North Koreans have been banned from drinking alcohol, laughing, shopping for groceries, or engaging in leisure activities, a resident of the border city of Sinuiju told Radio Free Asia.
Despite massive economic shocks caused by draconian anti-virus measures and long-dormant diplomacy with the United States, North Korea shows no signs of political instability.
But the long-term stability of Kim Jong Un’s rule could still be questioned if he fails to work out steps to address the ongoing difficulties and improve public livelihoods, some observers say.