8. Smiling on Certain Days
North Koreans are forbidden to smile on July 8, the anniversary of Kim Il Sung’s death. The same goes for loud behavior, drinking, or a birthday party. Violators of this rule are treated as ideological criminals. And in 2021, radio station RFA reported that the current leader of the country, Kim Jong-un, initiated an 11-day mourning for his late father, Kim Jong-il, on the 10th anniversary of his death. During this time, North Koreans were forbidden to laugh, drink alcohol, and shop (or engage in other leisure activities).
